"MASS MEETING—BY TICKET ONLY."

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 128, 26 November 1904, Page 2

"MASS MEETING— BY TICKET ONLY."

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I have" had the extreme pleasure of perusing- your sub-leader of yesterday's date designated: "Mass Meeting — ' By Ticket Only." A lesson on democratic principles' coming from the Post should be, exceedingly interesting to the democratic community from the gaiety | point of view, to say nothing of the fal- I laciousness of the statements contained , in the article. The Labour Party does not lose its nerve or head on any question, much less on one of vital importance to the people a3 a whole, such as the Shops and Offices Act; neither does the party forsake principles in order to be in accord with what might be considered to be popular feeling, nor is it desirous of "packing" any meeting for the purpose of preventing tree discussion, as the principles it advocates are 100 legitimate for it to descend tcr such contemptible tactics. The object of issuing tickets was for the express purpose of giving ladies and shopkeepers a reasonable opportunity to obtain admittance to the hall, and secure seating accommodation, which we had every reason to believe, according to re- j liable information supplied,' 'they would not secure if the doors were thrown open; this information was amply sub- j stantiated by the manner in which the i hall was filled. The vote on the resolution distinctly disclosed that the majority of those opposed to the motion were provided with seats, the r emainder being in the two first rows standing immediately behind the chairs. I saw all who were admitted by ticket, and can con-, *cientiously say that the large majority :vere shopkeepers. Those "who ultimately rushed the doors were to my own knowledge mostly in favour of early closing, but I would not admit them before the appointed time, as we were desirous of keeping faith with the public. The vote on the resolution distinctly disclosed that if the issuing Ojf tickets had an injurious effect «ither one way or the other, It was certainly against the Trades Council and the object of the meeting, as about 75 per cent, of the votes recorded in favour jf the resolution were recorded by the oersons who were standing and packed uke sheep. The hall is supposed to accommodate 600; 1500 tickets were secured, and these were distributed without favour by 1 p.m. on Wednesday by a person not connected with the Trades Council or any union; therefore it would be quite impossible to discriminate, as he and he only was in charge of the distribution,' and I might add that he is a stranger in this city. In view of about 800 having failed to secure admittance, I exceedingly regret the meeting was not held at the bkating Rink or Opera House. If it had been held in either of these places I am convinced that the resolution would have been carried by 5 to 1. In conclusion, I may add that when I called for a show of hands against the resolution a very considerable number held up two hands instead of one; I am satisfied that the motion was carried, and carried by a good majority. — I am, etc., W. T. YOUNG. Wellington, 25th November, 1904. For Influenza and Cold in the Head take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, la 6d and 2a 6d.— Advt.