AUSTRALIAN HOODLUMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN HOODLUMS.

DISGRACEFUL EXHIBITION.

MR. BRUCE REFUSED HEARING

"WORTH TEN THOUSAND VOTES."

Chore was a disgraceful exhibition of hooliganism in Melbourne three nights before the Federal elertions when the Prime Minister, Mr Bruce, addressed a meeting at Ivanhoe five miles from Melbourne For an hour Mr Bruce stood patiently on the platform while pandemonium reigned among an audience of 1000 people, many of whom were women. For an hour fh« chairman appealed in vain for order, while women shrieked and veiled, and men hooted and leered "Solidarity for Ever" was sune *>y a portion of the audience. The polii e motor patrol was summoned from Melbourne to control the crowd When it arrived many shrieking women ano some men were forcibly removed from the building The meeting was the most disorderly gathering that Mr. Bruce has over, addressed

Local residents were not responsible for he disorder, which was caused by women and men who had apparently been placed systematically in, various parts of tho hall so that they could interrupt the proceedings. Many of the interjectors were residents of Port Melbourne.

Chorus of Hoots and Yells. When Bruce arrived, accompanied by Mrs. Bruce ho was loudly cheered by the local residents, but the moment he mounted the platform pandemonium broke loose. There vvero cries of "You loafer" ami "You rotter."

When the chairman attempted to introduce him women at the back rose and shrieked incoherently, and gesticulated excitedly.

' Are you prepared to hear the Prime Minister/ asked the chairman. He was answered by a chorus of hoots and yells, und >vas then counted out. Mr. Bruce rose and stood for half an hour while the noise continued without cessation. There were only two policemen present, and though they removed one woman they were powerless to stop the noise.

"Anj disturber will be put out," shouted the chairman, but his warning »vas greeted by a fresh outburst of iaugiiter and cries of "Bruce is tho biggest disturber, lie is a home-wrecker; put him out.' Mr. Bruce shouted: "There are only three days before the election." "Well, lift your Transport Act," shouted a waterside worker, wearing a red carnation in his button-hole.

Beating Time on Policeman's Chest. "Look what you are, you aro a dog." yelled anotnei interjector. *1 cannot compete with, the lady at the back," said the Prime Minister. Mr. Brure's supporters at this stage cheered him lustily, but there was a fresh outburst of hooting from tho back. ■ The two policemen moved over to a woman in a green dress, with bare arms, who was interjecting, but it was impossible to remove her from the densely-packed crowd.

Shortly afterwards the audience counted out Mr. Bruce, and as they yelled "One, two, three, four," the woman beat time on (he chest of the policeman next to her. Some time later tho police patrol arrived, and this woman, with others, was removed shrieking and struggling

Mr. Bruce made many attempts f o speak but each time his voice was drowned by hoots and jeers. ' You are winning mo 10,000 more votes every minute this goes on," he shouted to the crowd, but the interruption continued.

When three-quarters of an hour had elapsed Mr. M. Considine, a former member of the Federal Labour Party, ros* from the back of the hall and appealed for order.

The Prime Minister Speaks. Tho crowd at the back continued its chorus of interruption. Mr. Bruce decided to address thoso in the front who were quiet. "However good a speech I might make here to-night," he said, "it could not l>ring me one-tenth of the votes that wifl conic to me and my supporters right round Australia as a result of this disgraceful exhibition. Any demonstration that prevents a I'nnm Minister from speaking to the country will tell against tlie party whoso members have been guiltv of Mich nil unsportsmanlike act. "In tho first week of tho campaign we bad no trouble at all, but tho other side began t<j see that their case was gone, and that they had better break up every Nationalist mooting. It is an -absolute negation of democracy when the leaders of u party aro not allowed to speak, and it is an absolute disgrace to our country that scenes like this are possible." At this stage the crowd at tho back sang "Solidarity for Ever," and Mr. Bruce was again compelled to stop. "You are afraid to let mo talk, your oWn case is so rotten,"' shouted Mr. Bruce.

The audience in front began to sing. 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Appeal by an Opponent.

Mr. Considine mounted the platform, and, .with difficulty, made himself heard. "I will ask Mr. Bruce's supporters to show us a pood example," ho said. "And I will ask those of us wlici are his opponents to show that the case of the workingclass of this country docs not need catcalling and boo-hooing to support it. I ask you to help tho cause you believe in by keeping quiet." A Woman: What about tho starving women and children ?

Th pre was a temporary pause in the interruption following Mr, Considine's appeal. and Mr. Bruco proceeded. "If 1 merely wanted to play the political gamo I would rouse you to go on interrupting." ho said "You have dono enough already." Mr. Bruce dealt, with tho waterside trouble. Throughout his speech ho was constantly heckled, and, though tho meeting became quieter after the police had ejected a riumbor of men and women, ho had to stop repeatedly. The meeting ended after he had spoken for a little more than nn hour.