UNPOPULAR OPINIONS

Evening Star, Issue 15480, 30 April 1914, Page 2

UNPOPULAR OPINIONS

ANTI-MILITARIST HUSTLED. CHASED BY ANGRY CROWD. A DARGAVILLE INCIDENT. [Special to the Stae.] AUCKLAND, April 29. A disturbance has been caused in Dargaville duirng the past few evenings, owing to a visiting anti-militarist expressing his views at the Post Office corner. His first appearance on Saturday evening attracted a large crowd, who speedily demonstrated their antagonism to his platform. He was hußtled from his stand, and on his persisting in his vociferations against the "Defence Act the Crowd became very hostile, and forced him on to the wharf. MatteTS at this stage looked black for the orator, and the intervention of the police probably saved him from being ducked in the river. Undaunted by the treatment accorded him, the objector to military training essayed to again speak on Sunday evening as tie congregations from the churches were on their way horns. He asserted that even if his wife and family •wejw molested by enemies he would not defend them. At this stage the large crowd indicated their anger in an xinmistakeable manner. The speaker was bespattered with flour, a* were also his two companions—a man and a woman. They ultimately departed, but they were followed by a hooting crowd, who only dispersed at the request of the police. It was .announced that the man would again speak last eroning, and some hundreds of indignant people awaited, his appearance, determined to deal with him in a drastic mannerj but later word was received that the orator had closed his mission in Dareaville. It, is reported that he has to-day left the district. Only last week the County and Borough Oonttcds passed resolutions upholding the Defines Act, and on Sunday the Territorials leaving for'the canip in the Waikato received a jrahlic send-oft