PAHIATUA SEAT.

Feilding Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 28, 25 July 1904, Page 2

PAHIATUA SEAT.

Attempt to Boycott a Meeting. Telegraph Press Association. Copyright Pahiatua, This Day. Last night Mr Bedford, M.H.E., was advertised to reply to Mr W. W. Collins, on the no license question, in the theatre. At the last minute Mr Orewe, Mayor, raised an objection to the theatre being used on Sunday night for such a purpose. The result was the people were locked out of the theatre. Great indignation was felt when the news spread. A crowd of over 600 people marched to the front of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr Bedford spoke from the front steps of the church. At the close a strongly worded resolution was carried, without dissent .protesting against the Mayor's attempt to boycott the meeting. A resolution was also carried unanimously against the attempt being made by the brewers and liquor party to defeat the will of the people by forcing "Clause 9" upon the colony before the people asked for. it. Mr Bedford spoke for an hour and a quarter, and had a splendid hearing. It is reported here that Sir Joseph Ward will speak at Pahiatua on Wednesday night in favour of the Government candidate. If this is so the other side have arranged that Mr Taylor, of Chrisfcehurch, will speak at Pahiatua on the same night.