CROSS-TALK

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 133, 3 December 1930, Page 12

CROSS-TALK

APOLOGY SOUGHT

COUNCIL CHAMBER INVADED

COMMUNISTS CAUSE TKOUBLE

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") CHRISTCHUBCH, 2nd December. Demanding an apology from Councillor J. W. Beanland for having yesterday, they alleged, told a small group of unemployed to go to , and asking what steps, were to be taken to givo single men work before Christmas, a crowd of about 150 unemployed- invaded the City Council Chambers this morning. Upon the Mayor (the Rev. J. K. Archer) refusing to hear certain of the leaders, about two-thirds of the gathering withdrew as a protest. They held a meeting downstairs, and returned to state that they had decided to force their speakers on the Mayor. The Mayor was firm in his stand that he would not hear Messrs. Marshall and Porter, two of the leaders. After hearing a man who gave his name as John Wilson, there was some questioning as to whether his real name was Porter. There was a chuckle among a section of the men when the man first announced his name as Wilson. Previously, at a meeting at which' the Town Clerk had told the men that the Mayor would see them, provided Messrs. Marshall and Porter were not present, the man announced as Wilson stated that "Porter would not be there." Pour constables were on the scene before the gathering broke up. After the meeting with the Mayor, the crowd gathered in front of the Council Chambers was asked by the police to break up. MEETING IN CHAMBER. There was some lively cross-talk during the meeting in the Chamber. The Mayor said that he wished to have an understanding with the men. He was willing to see tjhem provided they came in a spirit of co-operation. If they came in the spirit that was evident on the previous day, the present meeting would bo the last one to be held in the' Chamber. There were one or two leaders to whom the speaker would not give an audience. One of those men did not belong to Christchurch, and had no right to bo there. The' position was that in that room yesterday had been hold the most representative conference in Christchurch for many years, and two hours were spent in scheming out work for men before Christmas. The meeting of unemployed afterwards was a disgrace to the city. It was led by one or two mischief-makers. The authorities and social workers would continue to carry on their good work in spite of those few among the unemployed who were trying to ruin it. By the action of the latter, public sympathy was being estranged. A voice: "They are not trying to destroy your work." The Mayor: "I* is time tliat y°u men got r.id of these firebrands." A voice: "Then you will have to put away Holland, won't you?" "WHAT OF NEXT ELECTION?" The Mayor said that some of the men who had been trying to make mischief had asked him about votes at the- next Mayoral election. He did not care two straws about that. A voice: "Yes, you do." The Mayor replied that he was not out to catch votes. In any case, he might not be a candidate next time. Britishers did not believe in being threatened. When the-' man who is commonly known as Mr. Porter rose to speak, the Mayor said that he- would not hear him. v "That isn't fair," declared a member of the unemployed; and another member stated that the meeting wanted an apology from Councillor • Beanland for his having sent them to yesterday. Councillor Beanland: "If you think that J.B. will apologise to the few men who were standing round him yesterday you are mistaken. I will never do ■it.'-' "There is no need to get rattled over that," stated the Mayor to the men. "No doubt most of you, in your ordinary conversation, have told someone else to go to the same place." MAJORITY WITHDRAWS. Upon Councillor Beanland again refusing to apologise, Messrs. Marshall,. Porter, and a score of others left the room. Only one-third of the gathering was left for the Mayor to address. Referring to yesterday's demonstration, Councillor Beanland said that a small grohp of men had badgered him. He had said that the men were being led by a few Communists who were causing all the trouble. He had then told the group to go to . The other two-thirds of the gathering held a meeting outside, at which it was decided to force the elected speakers on the Mayor. Mr. Marshall announced this decision to the Mayor. The' Mayor (to men standing near tho door): "Will you come in, please?" Mr. Marshall: "They can stand there if they wish." A young man who has been a prominent spokesman for the unemployed told the Mayor that the unemployed wanted work or maintenance on full wages. RECEPTION MONEYS. A voice: "When Kingsford-Smitb, Oscar Garden, or the Duke come here you can always find money for meals for men. When a war conies along ■We are the poor fools who arc sent to it." The Mayor's reply was that Kings-ford-Smith's visit brought in much money for charity, and provided work for 100 men; Oscar Garden's reception had not cost the'public funds one penny. "Could you tell us what the plutocrats are doing with the patriotic funds, for which they get £7 a week to hold?" asked a member of the deputation. The Mayor: "You would have made, a good living if you had gone into tho Fullers' business." (Laughter.) NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE. It was announced that tho meeting had passed a vote of no-confidence in tho member of the Citizens' Unemployment Committee who had published the allegation that men were selling their food tickets at the hospital for money for the picture theatres. : As the gathering was breaking up tho Mayor asked where was Mr. Wilson. "Is his namo Wilson? Someone told me it was Porter," stated the Mayor. The man so cited, who was warned not to fool the Mayor, said that his name was Wilson. He might have a nickname among the crowd, but his name was not Porter.