Rowdy Tactics

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 156, 17 June 1936, Page 7

Rowdy Tactics

DISORDERLY SCENES Two Men Assaulted at N.U.W.M. Meeting WOMEN TAKE PART (By Tolegr&ph—Press Assucialiun,) CHRISTCHURCH, Juno 17. Disorderly acenes, culminating in two men being assaulted, were witnessed as a preliminary to a meeting held at the Trades Hall last night to consider the future administration of the Christchurch branch of the National Unemployed Workers’ Movement. One mam who entered the room a few minutes after the opening of the proceedings was knocked Bat on his back before he had time to find himself a seat. His wife and two companions who witnessed the blow rushed into the fray, and in an exceedingly lively and unconventional manner revenged the husband while he was still struggling back from the obscure and silent realms of unconsciousness to the more real and more rs,.dy scenes of his immediate surroundings.

The ringleader of the rowdy tactics was a man w’ho has had no official association with the unemployed for over twelve months. He was responsible for the assaults and had a bodyguard who were obviously ready to take a hand immediately any attempt was made upon their leader. Their hands were stayed while three women lashed the man with their tongues and their fists, but their attitude forboded trouble for any others who felt an urge to take an active part. The meeting was attended by 150 members of the movement. The major, ity had been warned that an attempt would be made by the Communist element to sabotagethe meeting, and ij. was only by the exercise of the great, ©st restraint by the sober-minded majority during a decidedly lively prelude to the meeting that saved a general riot, Assaults were deliberately made upon two men with the object of provoking further disorder, and when this failed members of the meeting came in for a torrent of abuse couched in language of most lurid order. After a stormy interval. Mr, H. Glanville, secretary cf the local Communist Party, was appointed to the ehai r . The minute secretary, Mr. R. Burgess, then declined to act. He was a member of the retiring executive. His refusal to take any official part in the meeting brought him in lor abuse and later au attack was made upon liiui by » man who had been responsible for much of the disorder. After further noisy outbreaks the leader ship of the local Communists was acclaimed. Nominations were called to fill twelve vacancies on the executive, but only seven were tilled. The remaining vacancies will remain open for six weeks, at which time nominations will close and new executive will set about the work of reorganising the movement in accordance with its Communistic policy.