Organised Uproar At PM's Auckland Meeting

Northern Advocate, 20 July 1949, Page 4

Organised Uproar At PM's Auckland Meeting

AUCKLAND, Wed, (Sp.)-—The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) and live other speakers were denied a hearing at the Town Hall last night when they at tempted to speak in favour of compulsory military training. Pandemonium reigned for two hours and three men were removed by the police. Many others were warned. The interjectors included many identified Communists. The opponents were obviously organised, and though numerically in a minority, were in sufficient force to spoil the meeting. A resolution supporting compulsory military training was carried by a two-thirds majority despite the noisy opposition.

When the Prime Minister entered the hall uproar drowned a pipe major’s music.

sheep in wolves’ clothing.” While. Mr Fraser was making only partly audible references to “Corain-form-iaspired strikes.” detectives approached the women exhibiting the two larger anti-conscription banners. One promptly disappeared and the other was tossed from the dress circle to the foot of the stage. "No doubt some of these men have ambitions to be commissars,” Mr Fraser said. "Watch the fanatical look on their faces, watch their eyes and see the fanatical glare in them.” Addressing the men directly he added: “Now you’re here, why don’t you howl louder ? ”

When the National Anthem was played halt a dozen men remained sealed but later rose with apparent reluctance.

Shouting, booing and cheers greeted the deputy Mayor (Mr J. L. Coakleyi and he: was barely able to make himself heard

Mr A. G. Osborne, M.P., appealed lor a "Yes" vote, which was a signal for prolonged shouting and groaning.

Mr T. Clifton Webb. M.P., and Mr E. T. Tirikatenc, member of the Executive Council representing the Maori race, fared no better, though Mr Tirikateno opened his speech in Maori and brought a puzzled silence. SCREAMS OF LAUGHTER

They howled louder. The Prime Minister beat time and remarked: “You see ? They are handled just as easily as children. The of this country will show quite clearly what they think of tins sort of thing.” Mr Erased added: This is quite in keeping with Communist action—the Communists who said in 1934 that when they got into power they would suppress every other party. In Russia there is no party but one and in Rumania the same. Look how ferocious they get, all of a sffdden. FURTHER STORM

The Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr Skinner) also tried to speak, but much of what he said was lost in uproar. Mr L P. Leary said that young men found that service life had its distinct advantages and. attractions, The young soldier learned a lot of valuable things. He learned how to keep dry when it was raining. Screams of laughter greeted this announcement.

A voice: Go suck an orange (an orange was bowled on to the stage, where Mr Fraser caught it and tossed it laughingly into the air) Further police warnings were issued when Mr Fraser aroused a storm by a passing reference to-Mr J. A. Lee and again when lie called some interjectors “poor Communist tools." “poor dupes with slave minds" and “poor mental slaves of Moscow.” “We won’t get in the police. We will get the ambulance for you shortly —be careful of your voice." he told one man.

Mr Leary: He learns how to light fires when it is wet. A woman: Little boy scouts.

Mr Leary: And how to take cover, protect himself and camouflage himself.

The same woman: Aren’t they clever? As Mr Coaldcy announced the Prime Minister, the organised opposition became most apparent. Scattered applause was overwhelmed as welldrilled opponents booed in unison.

"It seems to me that this is a very interesting and divided meeting," Mr Fraser began. "There are those who want to listen and those who won’t listen to reason.” BANNERS DISPLAYED.

“We call upon not the howlers or the senseless but on the intelligent people of ihe country who can think and who don’t make a noise.”

J\lr Fraser sat down amid applause, boos, mixed cries of “Good old Peter,” “Remember 1916" and counting out. The resolution was then put to the meeting. As Mr Fraser was entering his car he received a mixed reception from a crowd of about 200. Some one allied him derisively with Churchill to which another bystander retorted: “Better Churchill than Stalin.” A Communist supporter had the last word. He cried: "Go jump on the Union Jack.” NOT DISMAYED Mr Fraser laughed at the opposition’s tactics when interviewed at supper at the Auckland Returned Services Association's rooms last night. “I am quite happy about it,” he said. “If that is all the opposition, it doesn’t matter two hoots “I was surprised when the vote came how few dissentients there actually were,” Mr Fraser added. "I never knew such a big noise could come from such a small number.” The Prime Minister said lie noticed that some of the noisy elements were not New Zealanders.

The Prime Minister asked those members of the audience who wanted to hear the speeches to hold up their hands. This was accepted as a signal by four groups of women placed strategically in the dress circle to release anti-conscription banners. Mr Fraser was not discouraged, and remarked above the din: "I am going to educate the boys before I finish. I just ask them to shout less and think more. At the moment they’re just opening their mouths, shutting their eyes and swallowing this Communist stuff.”

A faint cry of order from Mr Coakley failed lo stem the noise of interjectors whom the Prime Minister enjoyed touching on a sensitive spot. “I’m doing fine," Mr Fraser said to the chairman. “I hope you won’t do anything to slop this accompaniment. T ran speak better lo the accompaniment of a noise. This reminds me of the good old times." BRIEF LULL.

A lull enabled Mr Fraser to make clear a number of major penis. These were: < U Employment of trainees would be safeguarded: (2) there would be provision for compensation for trainees who met with accidents; (3’ in the event of war no man under 21 would be sent overseas; f-l> training would be modern.

“One result of tonight's meeting is that it hag shown in advance what would happen if mob rule obtained and order was not observed,” he said.

“Now the people have heard the voice of the enemy within, roaring and raucous, it will bring a more solid and bigger vote for compulsory military training.” Mr Fraser complimented members of the Police Force on the moderate and conciliatory way in which they helped to control the meeting. He hoped no bad feeling would follow the function.

“My friends will be delighted with this—wait until you hear the howl," the Prime Minister said as he introduced his fifth point that trainees would not he used in industrial disputes.

His immediately following remarks were lost in disturbance and he was next heard saying that it was a falsehood that there would be manpowering under the military training scheme. There would be nothing of the kind.

Mrs H. F. Flower, speech therapist at the Whangarei Public School, has resigned. Her resignation was received with regret at the monthly meeting of the school committee. The resignation of the school clerk (Miss K. K. J. Petley), was also received. Miss Petley has also resigned from clerical work at the Whau Valley School.

“Because 1 have said this these gentlemen are howling like a pack of —what shall I say, for it is difficult to make a comparison.” the Prime Minister said, pointing to a particularly noisy group. “These boys are just