ROWDY NO-LICENSE MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14849, 28 November 1911, Page 8

ROWDY NO-LICENSE MEETING.

LECTURER ROUGHLY HANDLED.

[FBOSI OUR OWN CORKESPONDFA"!'.]

Helexsvule, Monday. One of the rowdiest meetings ever held in Helensville was addressed by Mr. E. J. F. King, the organiser of the Kaipara No-License League, on Saturday night. The speaker took his stand outside Stewart's building on an empty case, and commenced his address at eight p.m. From the outset it was evident the lecturer was to bo given a lively time. There were about 20 men more or less under the influence of intoxicating liquor amongst the large audience present, and everything indicated that an organised effort was being made to' break up the meeting. One man climbed up on to the box, pulled the lecturer off, and commenced to strike him, when several of the by-slanders rushed forward and dragged the man away. Two attempts were then made to rush Mr. King, and his .assailants succeeded in knocking him off his stand. He refused to admit defeat however, and returned each time to the box and faced the angry mob. One man was permitted to put the other side of the case, but even this did not appease the wrath of the nolicenso opponents, for when the prohibition organiser got up to reply he could scarcely be heard. - ' ■ .

Pandemonium reigned supreme, and several of Mr. King's friends, fearing greater exhibitions of violence, persuaded him to give up at about 9.30 p.m. Even then the mob would not disperse, and continued their horse-play until about 11 o'clock, turning what otherwise would have been a good meeting into a drunken orgie. Unfortunately, the local policeman was in Auckland. % ~ A number of residents have expressed their regret to .Mr. King that he should have been so treated, and have assured him that such conduct would react in favour of no-license.