LIVELY MEETING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 18 June 1936, Page 8

LIVELY MEETING

UNEMPLOYED AT CHRISTCHURCH COMMUNISTS TAKE CHARGE TWO MEN ASSAULTED (By Telegraph—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, 17th June. Disorderly scenes culminating in two men being assaulted were witnessed as a preliminary to a meeting held at the Trades Hall last night to consider the future administration of the Christchurch branch of the National Unemployed Workers Movement. One man who entered the room a few minutes after the opening of proceedings was knocked flat on his back before he had time to find himself a seat. His wife, with two companions who witnessed the blow, rushed into the fray and in an exceedingly lively and unconventional manner revehged her husband, while he was still struggling back from the obscure and silent realms of unconsciousness to the more real and more rowdy scenes of his immediate surroundings. The ringleader of the rowdy tactics was a man who has had no official association with the unemployed for over twelve months. He was responsible for the assaults, and had a bodyguard, who were obviously ready to take a hand immediately any attempt was made upon their leader. Their hands were stayed while the three women lashed the man with their tongues .and their fists, but their attitude foreboded trouble for any others who felt an urge to take an active part. The meeting was attended by 150 members of the movement. The majority had been warned that an attempt would be made by the Communistic element to sabotage the meeting, as it was only by the exercise of the greatest restraint by the sober-minded majority during a decidedly lively prelude to the meeting that saved a general riot. Assaults were deliberately made upon two men with the object of provoking further disorder, and when this failed members of the meeting came in for a torrent of abuse,, couched in language of the most lurid order. After a stormy interval, Mr H. Glanville, secretary of the local Communist Party, was appointed to the chair. The minute secretary, Mr R. Burgess, then declined to act. He was a member of the retiring executive. His refusal to take any official part in the meeting brought him in for abuse and later an attack was made upon him by a man who had been responsible for much of their disorder. After further noisy outbreaks the leadership of the local Communists was acclaimed. Nominations were called to fill the twelve vacancies on the executive, but only seven were filled. The remaining vacancies will remain'open for six weeks, at which time nominations will close and the new executive will set about the work of reorganising the movement in accordance with its Communistic policy.