THE WELLINGTON MEETING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 117, 15 May 1909, Page 5

THE WELLINGTON MEETING.

[from our correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, Friday. As was anticipated, last night's meeting in favor of universal military training was systematically and deliberately disturbed by a noisy crowd of the Socialist fanatics. The .objectors were in a minority, but they were strong enough to cause the meetring to break up in disorder, and to prevent the resolution being put. The Socialist leader, "Bob" Hogg, shrieked out wild denunciations of militarism and capitalism, and handed to the press—he was^ not allowed to read it—a long resolution containing the usual balderdash about the solidarity of labor and the necessity for combatting capitalism. It is pitiable that New Zealand should be afflicted with the presence of these brainless fanatics.. Well-meaning, no doubt, they are, but their studied misrepresentation of what is a thoroughly patriotic movement makes them nothing more or less than enemies to the State. If the majority of Wellingtonians had their way, the Socialists and those who for notoriety and voteseeking purposes pander to them would be shipped away, say, to the Antipodes or Auckland Islands, the-re to set up a Socialist Republic all en their own.

The promoters of last night's meeting need not be dismayed by the layings' of this little coterie of blatherskites, whose interruptions (often of a personal and vulgar character) made most of' the. speakers . inaudible, for the great majority of the citizens are •■with the movement, and when it comes to a vote, as it will do sooner or later, the noisy minority can howl its empty head off, but will not be able to affect the result. Last night's meeting showed the people of Wellington exactly what sort of unreasoning and -would-be tyrannical folk the Socialists and Disloyalists are. Were it ndt'ifor the newspapers, which foolishly play into their hands by publishing their letters and accounts of their meetings, no would be taken of their ravings.