ROWDY MEETING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7849, 11 July 1911, Page 1

ROWDY MEETING

SOCIALISTS IN AUCKLAND GATHERING HROKEN TP—POLICE KENT FOR. SPECIAL TO THE " TIMES." AUCKLAND, July 10. Disturbances in' connection with relici„,w mcciin»* urn fortunately of rare uceurrciico in Aurkhiml. but yesterday ifternoon the King’s Theatre, during the KMirse of a ineetiug held under the aus. picre of the Allni-Stors Association, uus Uh' scene of much unseemly behaviour, die gathering ultimately hieaking up in ILsonler, white the police had to bo sent for. _ _ . 'J'o explain the xiositiou fully it is necessary to relate the circumstances Ic.uliug up to the inauguration of these meetings. For .some time past the Socialist Party in Auckland has been holding regular Sunday night meetings in the Opera House, at which Mr Scott Bennett, a speaker of considerable ability, discourses upon revolutionary Socialism aucl RaUonaltem. These meetings have been attended bv crowded audiences, and as a counter-move the Auckland Ministers’ Association recently inaugurn.terl a series of muss Sunday afternoon mootings at Hie King’s Theatre in the interests of Social Christianity, the meetings being advertised ns "An Antidote for AntiCD rtetian Socialism.’' There has also been some feeling between tho Labour Party and the Socialists-. and possibly the fact that the president of tho Auckland branch of tho parlv (Mr J. Gilbert) occupied the chair at yesterday’s meeting at tho King's Theatre had something to do with tho disturbance which followed. As the meeting progressed it was oviden that a section of the audieuco had gone along with the determination to foment trouble, and by tho time tho question period arrived this hostile element had worked itself into such a form that any attempt to speak was the signal for a howling uproar. After vainly appealing for a fair hearing from them self-styled champions of liberty, equality arid fraternity, the chairman had perforce to send for tho police, but before the guardians of law ami order could reach tho scene tho opposition had contrived to break -up the meeting, which terminated in a babel of shouts and general confusion. In his opening remarks Mr Gilbert ex. pressed his pleasure at occupying tho chair, and said that,ho wished to say publicly that the Labour Party in Auckland bud no sympathy whatever with the Social Revolutionists of the Opera House. Tie end his party wort l in sympathy with, and wanted to work in co-operation with, nil those who were striving for the social bettormcn,t of the people, and welcomed (he assistance which tho Auckland Ministers’ Association was giving to that end. Two clerical speakers were permitted to address tho race’ing. though subjected to somn interruption; but when tho time came for asking questions tho meeting got right out of hand. Twenty or thirty writ leu queries were handed up, and the chairman unnonneed that some would be thrown out, inquiries about the New Zealand Dreadnought, and what the Ministers’ Association thought about the Ward baronetcy not being germane to the matter at 0One question also was regarded by the chairman as. not being within tho bounds of decency. . , , First of all there wore , just two or three men in the body of the hall do* vnanding that their questions should be answered. . . "Sit clownordered tho chairman, "Wo won’t sit down. Answer our questions!” came tho heated response. Then tho congregation generally took 1 a hand. . “Sit clown!” (her cried. . "Wo won’t'." yelled tho disturbing element, which grew rapidly, and at last the chairman's voice was absolutely drowned in tho uproar. Ncnv and then tho spfT-kers on tn© stage managed to god a word in but tho cry that certain questions should be answered -eontiim-d. and from 4.30 till nearly d o'clock the disturbance continued. The chairman threatened to send for five police, and finally the Newton police station was called up and a posse of police sent along. . In the. meantime, however, tho chairman hod invited those present to stand and sing tho Doxolngy. but a counteritv was raised for cheers for revolutionary Socialism, with the result that tho singing and cheering, both carried through with much vigour by the onnos. xng parties, brought the meeting to a <*.•l hi great disorder. The police arrived as tho crowd were dispersing. At the conclusion-of his lecture in the Opera TTou?”- on Sunday evening Mr Scott Bennett expressed regret that some Socialists had caused a disturbance in the King's Theatre. The other side had a perfect right to thrir nninions. and it* Socialists could not sit still and hear + hoso opinions tlioy should stay awav from the theatre altogether. Free sneeoh was a iewol, and the Socialist should be the last man to object to it.