The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, November 5, 1908. BRITISH FAIR PLAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 440, 5 November 1908, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, November 5, 1908. BRITISH FAIR PLAY.

WE boast much about our “British fair Play,” but the scene which occurred at Auckland, on Monday night, is a disgrace to any British community. An elderly man, Mr J. W. Taylor, M.A.,who is a candidate for the City Central seat, received a rough handling at the hands of a large mob, of which the hoodlum element was very prominent. Crowded out of his hall (St. James’), de made for a street corner in the neighbourhood. The mob then took charge of the proceedings, and the luckless Taylor was hustled and jostled about the roadway for half an hour. Every now and then missiles struck him, and he turned and lashed out at his tormentors. After a stormy passage, Taylor reached a private verandah, and was just starting his speech Horn there when the occupier of the house ejected him. He was hunted up and down the streets again until he took refuge in the Fire Brigade Station and gained the backyard. Thecrowd stormed the fence, and were driven back by a promptly applied hose. After a lull of a quarter of an hour the candidate was ordered off the premises, he and a few of his supporters being hurried on their way by the hose. The candidate fled down a side street, the mob following. He tried to speak, but fireworks and rotten eggs began to fly, and he was chased into Karangahape road. Here he sheltered in a hotel, on leaving which by the back entrance he was again assailed by an unruly mob. By this time Taylor was bleeding from a cut over the eye, and appeared desperately frightened. The care-

less crowd, however, escorted him, hustling him all the way to his boarding-house, and only dispersed when it was lound that the hunted man had gone to bed. The police intervened once or twice, but no arrests were made.