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Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 13

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A STREET MEETING

PACIFISTS IN CHRISTCHURCH

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

When a pacifist meeting in Victoria Square broke up in disorder last night, the chairman, the Rev. F. N. Taylor, against whom threats were made (as they were also against another speaker) to "chuck him in the river," had to be escorted away by a police sergeant and two constables.

"In the name of peace I had better go home," remarked Mr. Taylor, in a voice of despair. The reason for the disturbance of the meeting was given by a man who said to Mr. Taylor, "Why not keep quiet till the First, Second, and Third Echelons are away. Then we will give you a fair go." This man, who wore the badge of the Returned Soldiers' Association, said the association had no political feeling, but many of the members objected to pacifists holding meetings Only those in the inner circle were able lo hear the first three of the fojr announced speakers. The fourth speaker was not heard at all because the meeting was abandoned in uproar. Nobody who was more than five yards from the speakers heard anything but the clamour of arguments of the groups about them, and from the first, interruptions were incessant.