A LIVELY MEETING

Gisborne Times, Volume LI, Issue 5346, 5 December 1919, Page 5

A LIVELY MEETING

PRIME MINISTER AT CHRISTOHIJRCH.

HALL PACKED TO OVERFLOWING.

UNRULY CROWDS BATTER DOWN SIDE DOORS.

MR MASSEY UNABLE TO SPEAK

i.'resa Association TelegramCHRISTCHURCH, Doc. 4. h ll response to the request of the Mayor of Christchurch (Dr. Thacker, M.P.), the Prime Minister arrived in Christchurch this evening with the intention of delivering a political address in the Colosseum, one of the largest halls in the city. This building can safely accommodate about 4000 persons. The meeting was to commence at 3 o’clock, ana it was advertised that ladies with escorts would be given priority of admittance. By 7 o’clock the ordinary seating accommodation of the Colesseum was occupied and the doors were closed for the next hour. The queues were heavily congested, and there began an insistent clamor for admittance. Mr. Massey with the Mayor and others arrived at 7.-45, the Prime Minister being received with cheers and counter-demonstrations both from inside and outside. The Colosseum entrance facing Gloucester Street was the scene of great excitement by 7.30, with men struggling to approach the doors and scores of people ventilating personal grievances or political convictions. An enterprising section of young men had climbed up on to the corrugated roof and proceeded to storm the skylights. The police were powerless in such a huge crowd. The tinkling of broken glass was mingled with cheers and hoots from hundreds of voices. There was not seating accommodation left for anybody in the building a quarter of an hour before the announced time of opening the meeting and as there was a large percentage of ladies present the exceptionally large posse of police on special duty would not allow any more people to enter. Under these circumstances it was seen that it would be unwise to continue with the meeting, because in the event of anyone being overcome by the vitiated atmosphere it would have been almost impossible to reach the exits. Mr. Massey himself was doubtful about proceeding with the meeting owing to the. density and excitement of the audience, but the Mayor advised him to “hang on.” Just as the Mayor proceeded to open the meeting a determined storm was set up by a section of those who were locked opt on a fire escape, and the chairman’s remarks were inaudible because a great din was set up by the battering rams of the stormers. Dr. Thacker was heard to say that it was only British fair play to give the Prime Minister of the country a fair hearing: He regretted that Christchurch did not have a large enough hal for the accommodation or the huge crowd which desired to hear the leader of the Government speak in Christchurch. After the chairman’s remarks Mr. Massey briefly conferred with him, and then rose to speak. He had hardly expressed his pleasure at seeing such a huge gathering when Ins voice was drowned by the excited effort of the battering rams on side doors, and these giving way hundreds of men poured into the already overpacked audience like the Niagara Falls. It was estimated that between six and seven thousand people were in the hall. , The Mayor stood up and announced above the' tumult that the meeting could not be held in the Colosseum on account of the overcrowding but Mr Massev would give an address at the Band 'Rotunda, Victoria Square. A rush then set in for the exits by electors desiring to gain vantage points at Victoria Square Those who got there were regaled . by a brass band giving an open air conCe Meanwbile Mr. Massev and others were fighting their way to the ante"corns behind the 4‘ for “te-ro“m Massey remained m the ante-room until the congestion was removed and •Khpn went to his hotel. Interviewed afterward the JjPjfad said be was very sorry for what had occurred, but it proved thei need fo Christchurch having a town ball which could accommodate the vast crowd which would turn out on such occasions