WILD SCENE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7872, 7 August 1911, Page 1

WILD SCENE

SOCIALISTS MOBBED exciting demonstration IN THE CITY

THE DEFENCE QQESTION

For three hours last night about seventy youths and boys took charge of Cuba and Dixon streets in a demonstration against the Socialists in their attempt to belittle tho universal training scheme.

The demonstration was the result of an open-air meeting held by the Socialists at 'the corner of Cuba and Dixon streets. There was a large congregation of the public at this point listening quietly to the theories enunciated, but trouble arose when ono of the speakers, iu upholding tho action of Cornish, the youth who was imprisoned for refusing to register under the defence scheme, stated that no great cause had ever been' won without some individual breaking tho law and becoming a martyr for his convictions. In ten years’ time Cornish would be looked upon. as a martyr. In support of nis contention ho quoted history, going back to' the reign of King Charles I. Somebody in the crowd inter j ected : Ho had his head cut off. KING GEORGE'S HEAD.

“Tho time will come when the head of King George will bo cut off also,” retorted tho speaker. ’ ■. "With this remark the meeting was suddenly ended. The crowd became furious. The platform from which tho Socialist orators address their meetings was “rushed” and in a few momenta was reduced to splinters, and the “red flag” section of tho crowd, together with their speakers, made a hasty retreat to their Manners street hall, followed by a huge crowd that rapidly increased every moment. ■

The Socialists managed to get into their building safely, and with tho aid of a couple of policemen tho hostile element was kept out, tho doors being shut, but not before a wire gate leading to another part of tho premises had been hent out of all recognition by the crowd being pushed up against it. Frustrated iu their attempt to enter the Socialists’ meeting-room a large crowd of youths and small boys made a demonstration outside the building. They sang patriotic songs and kicked up a general hullabaloo, and at about 8 o’clock there must have been over two thousand people standing in Manners street between the Union Clothing Company’s corner and Herbert street. Subsequently sixty or seventy youths and boys commenced to parade the street singing "We'll hang old Cornish to a sour apple treq," tho chorus being “We are the terri-territorials,” etc. THE BAND “DOUBLING."

They marched up Cuba street and halted at Dixon street corner, where sarcastic remarks about the Socialists were made. By this time two or three youths had assumed command and a small advance guard was sent forward to keep a look out for the police. At tho word “double,” the main body ran up Dixon street at full speed, halting again at the corner of Herbert street, where the programme was repeated. A stranger coming on tho scene and not knowing what had led up to tho demonstration would cer-' tainly have thought tho youths had all gone mad, so strange were their antics. They rushed from point to point right round the block, the same procedure always being followed. A well-dressed youth, who was evidently the “captain” of the ringleaders, would oi'der "Halt!” and then mount on a fence or any other raised object at hand and ask iu a loud-voice, "Are you in favour of the Socialists?” replying in the same breath “No." He would then give the command to “double,” and away they would go again at break-neck speed to the next vantage point. FUN FOR NEXT SUNDAY. At about 0 o’clock a rather longer halt than usual was made at the comer of Cuba and Dixon streets. The ringleader asked them aH to meet there at 7 o’clock next Sunday night. “The Socialists will be hero,” he said, "and ,we will afterwards adjourn to their meeting-place in Manners street, and I XHomise you there will be fun." There was loud cheering and applause at this announcement. ■When quiet was restored ho naked those assembled to adjourn for a quarter of an hour, and then ail meet outside tho Socialists hall “to give them a rally when thei' come out.” ARMING WITH TINS.

The suggestion, did not meet with general approval, and there wore cries for a march through the city. The proposal was no sooner made than acted upon, and tho procession started down Cuba street. They crossed Manners street and entered the gate at the back of the Opera House- From there they, gained admission to a vacant section, and commenced collecting empty kerosene tins, of which there were plenty available. Armed with these they once more stfartj ed oft, but Sub-Lnspecter Sheehan arrived on tho scene and induced the lads to abandon their “instruments of torture/’ but he did not srucceod in making them disperse.

By back lanes they reached Manners street once more.' and lined up outside th Socialists’ hall. A strong poes-e of police had arrived by this time, and a few words of warning to some of the more prominent members of tho band had the effect of dispersing the youths, who suddenly turned tail and lied to-

wards Willia etreet at the "doubledouble/* Word was passed to the. Socialists that the /'road was clear," the lights in tlie building werg turned out and those who had ’attended, the meeting left the building two by two, dissolving: into the crowd which had been wituesshiff the demonstration without anybody being- aware that they were the object of the night's hoolaganism. THE YOUTH CORmSH PRESENTED WITH ANOTHER MEDAL. There was a large attendance at the Socialist ball oil Saturday evening when William 1 Cornish, the youth who recently served a term of throe weeks’ imprisonment in default of paying a fine for failing to register under the Defence Act .was presented with a modal by Mr T. Ho-ward on behalf of the Christchurch Trades and Labour Council: ■ The medal is shaped like a Victoria cross, and bears the inscription: "tor courage.” Mr C. Meduua, president of iho Wellington Branch of the New Zealand , Socialist Party was in the chair, and among the speakers was Mr 11. Freeman, secretary of the Wellington Anti-Omscrijition League.