STREET DISTURBANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15155, 20 November 1912, Page 7

STREET DISTURBANCES.

STALKERS DEMONSTRATING

S&SNE NEAR THE TOWN HALL.

MOB LOOKING FOR THE

PREMIER.

DISPERSED BY THE POLICE.

A DISAPPOINTED CROWD.

'A disgraceful scene in the streets followed the Prime Minister's reception at the Town Hall last night, a largo mob having to bo dispersed by the police from the vicinity of the Grey Statue. More than once during the disturbance a riot looked imminent.

Hundreds of men, women and youths be,an to congregate at the Queen-street and jrov-stroet entrances to the Town Hall k t seven p.m., and by 7.30 p.m. there *ere from 1500 to 2000 in the two crowds. [t was evident that their object was to neet Mr. Massey with a hostile demonstration when ho arrived. In this they ivere, however, disappointed, the Prime Minister having reached the hall before he would-be demonstrators had assembled. With the object of preventing any trouble, Iho Commissioner of Police (Mr. Cullen) had arranged for a force of over 100 constables, several of whom were mounted, to be on duty at the Town Hall. The arrival of this large body of uniformed officers of the law, under Mr. Cullen himself, Inspector Mitchell, and Sub-Inspector Hendrey, was the signal for a derisive outburst from the mob, but no active demonstration was made. When prolonged cheering from inside the hall announced the fact that Mr. Massey had made his appearance on the platform, the outmanoeuvred federationists in Grey-street gave vent to their caagrin by boohing vigorously.

Federationlat Speakers. Whilst the meeting was in progress no attempt whatever was made by the crowd to interrupt the proceedings. Instead, they quietly assembled around the Grey Statue, where they were addressed by several of the prominent federationists and strike leaders. The speeches were on similar lines to those which the same men have been making of late. Bitter feeling was expressed because of the strong force of police requisitioned to keep order that night. One speaker declared that the federatiouiste did not advocate or countenance acts of violence by their followers. " We hope," he said, " that everyone who is here to-night, everyone who sympathises -with the Waihi strikers and the Federation of Labour, will be at the opening of the post office to-morrow. But," he added, " we want you to refrain from any violence. Give Massey a hearing, and we'll have our say afterwards." (Loud cheers and cries, of " Wo will.") ........

Police Heading Ofl the Crowd. Somewhat to the surprise of the crowd around the Grey Statue the gathering in the Town Hall ended at 9.45 p.m. Immediately .there was a rush towards the Town Hall. A squad of mounted police making for the Grey-street entrance to the building indicated that the Prime Minister was expected to come out at that side. Hot in the wake of the mounted men surged a crowd now numbering over 2000, the majority of whom were, "booh-ing" with great energy. With remarkable generalship the Commissioner of Police had his forces marshalled in Grey-street. As the crowd advanced from Queen-street the police made a counter move against them, and headed them off some distance towards Queen-street from the entrance doors. As they went firmly forward the police were accompanied by a sympathetic crowd, amongst whom were many who had been sworn in as special constables. These cheered lustily for Mr. M*ssey, in their full-throat/ d heartiness, drowning the boohs which came from the angry mob of federationists.

A Euse by the Police. A sudden move by the mounted constables opened up a lane through the hostile ranks. Amidst further booh-ing and jeering the checkmated mob 3topd sullenly back on the footpaths and waited for Mr. Massey's motor-car to come past. Again they were doomed to disappointment. The Prime Minister and Mrs. Massey, with thnir party, having stepped aboard and been heartily cheered by a large crowd of loyal supporters, were driven away up Grey-street. As soon as the federationists realised that their prey had evaded them they broke out into frenzied hooh-ings, and for a while matters looked ugly.

Giving the Crowd a Chance. After waiting to give the crowd a chance to disperse Commissioner Cullen recognised that it was not their intention to do anythin:' of the sort. He thereupon formed up his men, mounted and afoot, and led by the former, the whole forca inarched steadily towards Queen-street, and through the assembled mob. The- police paid no attention to the chorus of boohs and groans indulged in by the federationists, and a strong counter-demonstration was made by a large proportion of the onlookers. The police halted in the vicinity of the Grey Statue, and the mob gathered round at a loss to understand the move. For about 20 minutes the police stood where they were, whilst, individuals taunted them, and more orators harangued the mob. Presently a federation leader mounted the base of the statue- and urged all supporters of the federation to go home quietly, and not cause trouble. Most of the leaders then disappeared, but the crowd obstinately remained. At 10.25 the police were again put into Biotion, in order to disperse the crowd. The mounted men skirmished around the 'tattle iu a circle, which they gradually widened, until the crowd was back on to the footpaths.

Crowd Pressed Sack by the Police. Several minor disturbances now took Place, and a booh" would be heard in one direction, whereupon a body of police made a rush and pressed the offenders Pack, Rush after rush of this kind was carried out with such success that in 10 Minutes, and without a person being injured, the mob van diminished by one- .'*•& - Of those who remained very many

were anti-federationists. Indeed, had any. serious resistance been made tho police would have had plenty of willing assistance. Shortly after 11 p.m. the mob tired of its futile behaviour, and after having discussed matters in groups they recognised that tho odds were against them and that tho police vero determined. They all dwindled away gradually and made for their homes.

YOUNG REFORMERS MOBBED

FIGHTING IN THE STREET.

FISTS USED FREELY.

After the meeting in the Town Hall, not the least sensational incident was that in which some fifty staunch supporters of tho Reform Party, all young men between the ages of 20 and 30, had a most unpleasant experience. They were mostly old boys of somo of tho Auckland colleges, and somo of tho federation supporters scornfully referred to them as "colfege pups," and called out insulting names to them. This was more than the young men could stand, and they banded together, and walked down Queen-street, from the Grey Statue to Wellesley -street. Here somo trouble began. Irresponsible youths in the back line of federationists used their fists freely, and two or threw of the " college pups" received nasty blows from the back. One young fellow was struck on the head, and was almost stunned, but was helped by his friends along the street. The crowd behind then fell in, and jostled the party along Queen-street. The crowd turned them into Durham-street, where the police intervened. However, this did not close tho proceedings. About ten members of the party after a time continued down Queen-street towards the wharf, and blows were again frequently exchanged. Bleeding faces and black eyes became rather common on both sides, and one young fellow, an anti-federationist, was in a rather pitiful condition by the time Cus-toms-street was reached. The police at the corner of Customs-street, however, i quelled the disturbance, and the crowd scattered.

STRIKE COMMITTEE'S STATEMENT.

MEN TOLD TO KEEP AWAY.

Prior to the disturbances reported above the following statement, signed by Mr. E. Dye on behalf of the Strike Committee, was handed in at the Herald Office with a request for publication :—" The Waihi Strike Committee emphatically refutes the rumours in circulation last night that attempts were to be made to cause riots in connection with Mr. Massey's visit to Auckland, as all the Waihi men had been specially warned to keep aloof from these, meetings as much as possible, and also all Federation of Labour members and sympathisers."