ELECTION TACTICS

Nelson Evening Mail, 15 May 1917, Page 5

ELECTION TACTICS

ACID THROWN AT W 7 OMEN. ATTACK ON NATIONALIST. A manifestation of. spitef ulness against Mr G. A. Maxwell, the Win-the-War candidate for ITawkner, .. occurred at South Melbourne a few days before the recent elections. Mr Maxwell had addressed a meeting in the Town Hall, at which youths and young women created some disorder. His wife and his daughter,, with his sister-in-law, were present. At the termination of the meeting they were waiting in a motor car in front of the hall for Mr Maxwell, when the rabble surrounded them, hooting, groaning, and yelling fiercely. A liquid was thrown into the motorcar, but at the time it was not considered harmful. Portion of the liquid fell on the coat of the chauffeur and other portions on the wind screen and c-> the side of the car. On the following morning it was seen that the liquid was a virulent acid. It burned a hole in the chauffeur's coat, while the car was so stained that it could not be cleansed. A disturbance .followed a meting of women in Bendijjo, which was addressed By. Miss Adela Pankhurst, in the interests of the Caucus Opposition .Party. About 200 women assembled on the roadway, and some of them assumed a bellicose attitude, and as trouble threatened. Mr H. Cunningham, a leading Nationalist, and a supporter of the Premier, went into the surging crowd of women. A button bearing the photograph of Mr Hughes was torn from his coat, and in | the confusion he was furiously attacked i-with umbrellas by some half-dozen or more female Labour supporters. When he : was on the ground, some male members of the Labour Party are alleged to have kicked the prostrate Nationalist. Recovering himself, Mr .Cunningham, sought refuge, in the town hall. pna the doors were shut to keep out the infuriated women. The police arrived, and; order was restored. Mr Cunningham sustained painful injuries,, and subsequently received medical attendance. ;