Banned by Police

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6838, 20 April 1932, Page 6

Banned by Police

Communists Ordered Not to Speak MEETING THAT FIZZLED OUT A clog fight and an interlude by a certain individual who had evidently been of a thirsty disposition up to 0 o’clock, constituted the only excitement provided the several hundred citizens — men, women and youths—who, expecting things to pan out according to rumour, gathered in the vicinity of the relief depot in Church street last evening.

J3y pamphlet, tho branch of the Communist party in Palmerston North, had invited citizens to listen to their speakers who were to “take the box” in the section adjoining the depot. It was rumoured that'there was likely to lie “some fun” but tho police forbade the speakers to commence and requested the crowd to clear the footway. The appointed speakers then crossed the street to a vacant section opposite, at the corner of Linton street, where one speaker had barely protested against the action of the police in prohibiting the meeting when Sergeant Hill interposed and issued a warning to ail present that ho would not be responsible for what might happen. The speakers' were advised to quit and they left, the crowd following them around the Square out of curiosity. A circuit of the Square brought them to tho vicinity of tho carriers’ stand where it is customary for open air meetings to bo held. Here the crowd automatically stopped and opportunity was again taken by Sergeant Hill to warn “all decent citizens’’ to get away home as the police would not be responsible for what might occur. “We will handle the roughs,’’ ho added. Few, if any, accepted tho advice. At this stage the threo constables who had moved the crowd on at the relief depot, were reinforced considerably. One of tho speakers told a reporter that they were not anxious to run foul of the authorities and were prepared to call the meeting off. To Sergeant Hill he stated that he could dismiss the crowd in two minutes if he wero allowed to speak, but the sergeant refused, adding that this particular speaker was looking for trouble. Ordered to move on, he left and was not followed by the crowd, which remained in the vicinity for tho next half-hour before gradually breaking up. When the two dogs started to fight a ring was quickly cleared and tho terriers were urged to continued combat. The gathering was in tho mood for diversion and soon formed another circle around a man who, in uncertain voice and on uncertain legs, declared that “every man, woman and child. . . .” At that particular moment he observed a constable standing at his side and to tho merriment of the crowd, he cut his remarks dead.

To a suggestion from someone in vhe crowd that he should contribute a song, ho quickly responded. Pennies commenced to land on the bitumen around him, encouraging the songster to renewed effort. (Shortly after, with the coins in his cap in one hand and a halfeaten tomato in the other, ho was escorted by a man in blue through the crowd and advised to leave. The gathering followed suit shortly after.