MORE DISORDER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7976, 6 December 1911, Page 1

MORE DISORDER

NO-LICENSE MEETING

LIVELY SCENES- AT TOWN HALL.

The last rally of the No-license party, held an the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last evening, drew a crowd far too largo to obtain even standing accommodation, and tho doors were shut and further admission refused before the appointed hour of starting the meeting. The Rev. J. Comrie presided, and tho speakers wero: Revs. C. 11. Olds, A. C. Sim, J. J. North, J. Dawson, E. O. Blamircs and Hr E. Tregear.

When the chairman rose to open ho was promptly "counted out," and it was some little time before his remarks were audible.

"Aro you ready?" asked Mr Comrie, after waiting patiently while the rowdies had their say. " Yes, let go," came a. voice from tho back of tho hall.

"Wo have come," said Mr Comrie, “ito tho last meeting before tho poll, (** Hurrah/'* come a chorus.) AVc inean to havo a good meeting/* (Cheers, stamping and laughter.) Tho speaker, amid •conitiuuous interruptions, appealed to tho sense of fair play and sportsmanship .of hiis audience, and expressed, a wish that 'nothing .would occur that would bo unworthy of tho capital city. They did not intend to penult the meec,ing to become a bear garden, and those 'wnose names were taken for clearing a disturbance would bo prosecuted, ihero were three political parties in New Zealand, to-day—the Govemmeirt, the Opposition—(A voice: And wowsers)—and tho La]x>ur party. On the licensing question there were only two parties. ■ There was tho no-license party—(A voice: Wowsers) and the. license party. * (Hurrah and applause.) The speaker referred to misrepresentations which, he considered had been made, whon. "Three dicers for beer/* came from tho back of the hall, immediately followed by a ringing response. “ And one for the referee, came a 'cry, amid laughter, cheers and general disorder. . . . There had been misrepresentation with :regaid to Masterton. (Cries of ** No, no, !ond “"the bottles wero right.")' > Tho number of empty houses in Masterton to;day was less than the number under ’license. A _ " No, no,** came tho protest, mingled with shouts of ** Speak tho truth," and hoots, ? " 1 speak tho truth/* eaid Mr Comrie. " No, you don't/' was tho prompt’ reply from the back of the hall. • The Rev. C. H. Olds was greeted with.

"Does, your mother know you're out?" Wo .like/' ho ooucinued, “to hear men ‘talk about something they know something about. Hear, hear," and laughter.) I want to speak about something i know. X .want to speak about Maaterton." . “ Poor Masterton,” tamo a voice, with , mock symparhy. A general commotion followed, the' audience rising and numbers standing on chains to watch the movement's of a .policeman who appeared, to ■ ho warning some of the offenders. There was hooting and gerera! disorder, which ceased when the gentleman in. bine resumed hie place by the door. ■ " Older, please," asked the chairman “ Peer, please," was the reply. 'Towards the end of Mr-Olds' address, cries of. “Wo want North," drowned his remarks, and there was plenty of noise when he sat ’down. The Rev. J. J. North rose from. Ins seat amid -a storm of hoots and the singing of “ ‘We'll hang old North on a sour apple tree.” ■ “Como on, you wowser,' cried somebody, by way of encouragement. Air North gave the d’ettnition of a wowser —it was a man who had warts on his chest through loaning against hotel bars. A voice: Have you got any warts? Mr North sat down, but later concluded his address in the face of a shower of hostile remarks. During the height of the disturbance the chairman said that as for the boy who was making a row with a whistle, if he would come 'to the front ho would give him a penny to buy lollies with. Immediately a young man came to the front, to the intense amusement of the audience, received his penny, and left the hall.

Apparently, (however, .'ho was mot the only posessor of a whistle, for he had scarcely reached the door before another claimant came along. The Rev. J. Dawson, produced' .the acquired penny, and the second left amid cheers and loud laughter. A few moments later the first hoy returned, and walking across the front of the hall, holding two sticks of candy aloft, invited all and sundry to partake of the delicacies. None of the speakers received by any means a patient hearing, and tho meeting broke up in. disorder.