DEMONSTRATION IN THE CITY

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 69, 19 September 1917, Page 3

DEMONSTRATION IN THE CITY

INTERESTED CROWDS

Before Parliament commenced its consideration of the hours question, the public demonstration in the city drew attention to the coming debate. Crowds two and three deep lined the footpath all along the route of the procession, and at various points of vantage larger groups gathered. At street intersections, great numbers of people congregated, while at Parliament Buildings come hundred*

I awaited the arrival of the procession. Promptly at 5 o'clock the Salvation Army Silver Band took up itn position outsida the Vivia.n-street Citadel, and after a, few minutes the procession was marshalled. Ministers of religion and leaders of the movement marched ahead, and following the band in ranks three deep were some two hundred men and women with a few children. There was not much time to lose and the band set a quick pace. Along Cuba-street, Manners-street, Willis-street, and Lambton-quay the demonstrators marched, the little army gathering recruits as it went. When Government Buildings were reached the procession was quite a long one, numbering on a. rough computation some six hundred persons. There was no disorder at any point on the route, and veiy little demonstration for or against the movement. Once' or twice the cry of "Wowser" was heard, and occasionally there were cheers. Two mounted constables led the way, and other members of the Force were stationed at corners where traffic difficulties might have occurred. There were no difficulties, • however, and no obstruction of tram traffic—the files were formed three deep to guard against that. On.the footpaths progress was slow, but it would have required a small army of police to move on the thousands who made up the gazing curious crowds. ■ .