ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1914. ROWDYISM AT POLITICAL MEETINGS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 91, 20 April 1914, Page 4

ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1914. ROWDYISM AT POLITICAL MEETINGS.

For some time past Wellington lias earned a very bad reputation for the disorderlmess of its political meetings, especially those addressed by the Minister for Marine, against whiom a "dead set" seems to have been made by the Labor party, with the tacit approval, we are afraid, if not exactly the open countenance and co-operation, of persons belonging to the Opposition party. At Mr Fisher's two meetings, the second of which, was held at the 'Wellington Town Hall, th© most disgraceful rowdyism took place. On the first occasion the Minister found it simply impos* siolo to obtain a bearing, being

continuously assailed with jeers and ' ■abusive terms, whilst a section of the I audience indulged in silly horse-play/-1 s At the second meeting, however, a- i number of police were present, and as 4 the result of their observations nine . ] men appeared before the stipendiary * magistrate on Wednesday last, and. were fined fairly substantial penalties t for their riotous and disgraceful' J behavior. It is to be hoped that the j lesson thus given to the rowdy : ] element which lias recently been sys~ ' < tematically . persecuting the Minister ! < for Marine will have a general and ■ ( lasting effect in the capital city of the ■ Dominion, where, so there is only too' much reason to believe; there exists i a large section which has the most profound contempt, not only - for, political fair play and decency, but for all law and order. The animosity displayed towards Mr Fisher by the : rowdies who broke xip his two- meetings is no doubt an aftermath of the : strike and the firm and wise conduct' on that occasion of the Government i of which, he is a member. The honor- . able gentleman is a vigorous, i ' courageous speaker, and is not given -. to mincing his words, and even ■ although, as we have said, almost continuously interrupted at the meetings alluded to, managed to "get home" with some stinging retorts, some of which must have made his tormentors feel very small. Now tliat the Wellington magistoate has made it clear that persons,; brought before him charged with '■ wantonly and deliberately disturbing' public meetings will risk the infliction I of a heavy'fine, it is to be hoped that Wellington will not again be dis-! graded! by sixch proceedings as those: recorded a week or two ago as having ' taken place at the Town Hall. It is gratifying to learn that' the elements '. of disorder which were so disagree- ♦ ably m evidence at Mr. .Fisher's meetings were not manifested to any extent at the meeting which was addressed in the Wellington Town Hall by the Minister for Justice, the Hon. Mr Herdman, on Friday night. Mr Herdman, it is well-knWn, is_ specially persona, ingrata with the "Red Fed" section of the community, i who hold him in particular detesta- j tion because of the firmness with \ which, lie upheld law and order at; Waihi and for the similar determina- \ tion exhibited by him during the ■ Wellington strike troubles.. When ; Sir Joseph Ward, at his recent- meet- ' ing. in the Empire City, appealed for a. fair hearing for the Minister for Justice, a section of the crowd gave vent to a lusty-lunged "Not much!" or words to that effect. But it is apparent that the action taken by the ! police in respect to those who dis-"! turbed Mr Fisher's meetings deterred i the rowdy element from manifesting j itself very prominently at Mr Hea-d- { man's meeting. , If there is any more ! rowdiness at political meetings, ' whether addressed by Government, Opposition, or "Red Fed" speakers,' it is to be_ hoped that the magistrates j will exercise the power which they > possess of sentencing the guilty ones J fco a short term of imprisonment. ' Fines can generally be met; but the j class of person who do their utmost ] to break up public meetings would soon find their enthusiasm for this: sort of thing evaporate if they had to cool their heels and • give their > abusive tongues a few' days' rest in gaol. We are by no means sure that disfranchisement for a certain period , should not accompany the fining or ' imprisoning of persons who choose to ; behave like yahoos rather than as • civilised human beings{buii for such' a penalty legislative-;Jj^fe.&ral would have to be obtained. We ea<mestly trust, for the sake of the- good name of New Zealand, that riotous behavior at political meetings will now and for all time cease.