SYDNEY DOMAIN ORATORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16892, 3 July 1918, Page 8

SYDNEY DOMAIN ORATORS.

HOSTILE DEMONSTRATION.

SOLDIERS MARCH TO TRADES HALL

A mild demonstration occurred in the Sv.lney Domain on tho afternoon of Sunday, June 16, and later in the evening at the Trades Hall as the result of Domain utterances. ,

Shortly after the arrival of a number of invalid returned soldiers at the Anzac Buffet, the crowd sauntered off to listen to several sneakers mounted on various platforms. Each suoaker was surrounded by ft large crowd of auditors. For. a time each received a patient hearing. Then interjections began, anil gradually increased. It appeared at ono meeting that a few boisterous spirits were intent on mischief. Tho police, about 150 of whom were on duty at the Anzac Buffet, were ordorod to attend the meetings. This was taken by the public as an indication of impending trouble, Nothing, however, occurred for several minutes, but, as a few of the noisy section seemed likely to cause trouble, the police stopped a speaker and quietly walked him out of the Domain.

The same course of action was adopted with a second speaker. This seemed to settle matters for a time. Later on, howover, three talkers were pushed off the platform before the police could interfere. 'The police distributed themselves among the crowd. More jostling ensued, and threo persons wero arrested and charged with riotous behaviour.

Early in tho evening a body of about 200 soldiers in uniform visited Darlinghurst for tho purpose of attending an open-air meeting. Not finding their quarry the men marched to the Trades Hall. Their approach was communicated to the police, and a largo force, including a dozen mount-eel troopers, was despatched to tho spot, which they reached before the soldiers. The latter, it was reported, intended to attend a meeting being conducted there in order to make a demonstration against a speaker who they alkged had been making remarks reflecting on recruiting, and which did not meet with their views of patriotism. The mini, sought, however, was not there, and the soldiers made no attempt to enter the building. The appearance of the foot police, tho mounted men, and tho soldiers caused much curiosity amongst a large crowd who bad collected. In the meantime a body of garrison military police were brought to the Central Police Station in case of emer. gency. Their services, however, were not required, as the soldiers, after waiting about the street in tho vicinity of the Trades Hall, suddenly formed up and inarched to the railway station on the way to camp.