A DISTURBED MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14855, 5 December 1911, Page 8

A DISTURBED MEETING.

STUDENTS ON NO-LICENSE.

POLICE TAKE A HAND.

A section* of the large audience at a students' No-license meeting in St. Benedict's Hali last evening became exceedingly •boisterous soon after the proceedings opened, and interjections, most of them good-humoured, wero free and frequent throughout. On several occasions a large number of those, present stood on the seats to have a better view of the efforts of the police to restore order in the rear. The Hon. Geo. Fowlds occupied the chair. Mr. C. L. Carr, a student, dealt with the question of no-license and national prohibition from an ethical standpoint. Ho was subjected throughout to good-humoured but rather disconcerting interjections, and Mr. R. H. Melville, who followed with some remarks on the eugenic side of the question, could only be heard at intervals. Mr. Fowlds made an effort to quell the disturbers, and gave orders to three or four constables present " to take the first man that interjected outside." Loud ' derisivo cheering from the back followed this intimation. Then there was a semi-stillness for a time, but an outbreak was simmering. A student at the back rose, and, standing on top of a seat, proposed the following motion " That tho students of the Auckland University College here present pro : test against the action of the no-license party in advertising the speakers at this meeting as representing the students of the Auckland University College, when the majority of the said students were not consulted in the matter." The resolution was seconded amid great uproar, and both mover and seconder walked with it to the platform. There it was handed to Mr. Fowlds, who refused to take any notice of it. The indignation of a section of .the audience rose to feverheat, and amid yelling and jeers and cheers the young man who moved tho motion was led outside by a constable. The inevitable was accepted bv his friends, who sang " For He's a Jollv Good Fellow," jeered Mr. Fowlds, and cheered the police. Tho remainder of meeting was quite as rowdy, and at the conclusion, when Mr. Fowlds had left, and Mr. J. W. Stewart had taken the chair, the disturbers again endeavoured to put their side of ; the case. Two young'men, who said they wero representing the students, rose from tho back, and marched to the platform. They moved a resolution protesting against tho ejection of their friend but the chairman, amidst further uproar) refused to accent it. A vote of thanks to the speakers was proposed, and, being carried enthusiastically, closed the proceedings.