HOWLED DOWN!

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8681, 14 March 1914, Page 6

HOWLED DOWN!

MR FISHER MEETS HIS ELECTORS

PANDEMONIUM REIGNS

MEETING BREAKS UP IN DISORDER

“REFORM'S” HOT RECEPTION

One of tlio most disorderly political mootings in the history of tho Dominion took pluco in St. Peter’s Schoolroom in Gluv.mes street last night. , Tiro Hon. ,F. M. B. Fisher: >LP*...ior„Wellington Central, had announced that ho would address his constituents, but a speech from the Minister was made impossible through tho disorderly scenes which took place. Tho hall was a ]>erfeot pandemonium from tho start, the result being that Mr Fisher, instead of • addressing his electors, was forced to retire, and the mooting broke up in disorder.

Hero a member of the audience interjected again. Mr Fisher (to tho interjector); “If I hear any moro from you I’ll'have you shifted. We’ve discovered a method of dealing with people like you.” Voices: “ Yes, specials I” (More disorder.) “ It is extraordinary that a man like Mr Holland can come here at a public meeting and get a perfectly good hearing,” shouted Mr Fisher above the din. (Uproar.) Voices: “He’s a belter man than you!” (Loud cheers.) Voices; “Give him a hearing 1” Others: “Shut upl Down with him 1” “MY STEWARDSHIP ” At this stage Mr Fisher had a chance again. “ I have oome here because I want to tell you something of my stewardship since I joined the Massey Government,” he said. This was the signal for a wild outburst of laughter and hooting. Sir' Fisher; “I can see that there is a largo section of the audience which is spt upon •” . A voice; “ Putting you out at next election.”

" Long before 8 p.m. tho hall wan mickocl, and by that hour, some six hundred people had packed themselves Into the small building. In spite of the crush, however, tho waiting audience was perfectly orderly and quiet before 8 o’clock. On the stroke of that hour, Mr Fisher, accompanied by Mrs Fisher, entered the hall by the door nearest OhuznCe street, No sooner had he appeared than disorder reigned. One wild.outburst of hoots and yells greeted him, but he made his way up the 'aisle to tho stage.. There was a mingling of booing and clapping, - at 1 he emerged from the wings and,essayed to-speak. “You’re a scab!” came from the. back of the audience. “Why 'did you turn your leasehold coat?’’ came another' question above tho din. The uproar continued for some three minutes, when-Mr Fisher began: HOSTILE FROM THE START. “Ladies and gentlemen —” ■ A howl ,of hostility came from the majority of tho audience. Again the uproar lasted for some minutes. “Are ive Reformers?” shouted the audience, “Nol” came the answering yell. “Keep the Red Flag flying I” cried someone,.at.which there were cheers for the flag and for .the Socialists. , ■“ I’ve come along to-night began Air Fisher again. Howl after howl greeted him. He smiled, and shouted something about not being in a hurry. Tho din was deafening, and tho variety of yells and calls and interjections was amazing. ■’“'Do we want ‘Reform’?” cried a member of the audience. A great yell of “No!” answered the question. , : . It was apparent that some of Mr Fisher’s supporters (who occupied the front five or six rows of seats in the hall) were getting' angry at the proceedings at the back of them.. One after another they yelled to the hostile crowd to giro Air Fisher a chance, hut their appeals were of no avail. POLICE REINFORCED.

Air Fisher : “ Well, they will have a big contract bn hand.” Voices: “ You’re well gone now.” (Laughter.) A voice: “Half an hour up!” Air Fisher: “I can tell you this. If I don’t get on with my speech, I am sure Mr Holland won’t get in 1” (Hoots and groans.) , A voice: “That’s a challenge 1” “ YOU’RE A AIIOROBE1” Air Fisher (to another interjector): “ You’re not an elector. You’re a ■microbe.’’ Here there was again disorder. There was cheering in one part of the hall; laughter in another, and groaning at the back. Again came the calls about the Red Flag and “Down with, ‘Reform!’ ” There were little arguments and disputes all over the hall, and there was discord all round. “Well,” said Mr Fisher to the rowdy section, “ it will he a sorry day when your party gets control of the country.” A voice: “ It won’t be long!” Air Fisher: “You’ve got a good long may to go.” The voice: “ You helped to kill Seddon, yelling and howling after him.” QUARRELSOME LADIES' It was about this time that _ there was a most amusing incident in the disorder. Sitting in the front row was an ardent lady opponent of Air Fisher, while near her sat just as ardent a lady supporter. These two became argumentative, and for tho first few moments this is how it went; First lady; “He helped to kill poor Seddon.” Second lady: “Be quiet 1 Your’re making all tne noise.” First Indy: “It’s you society women who caused the strike.” ■■■

'The arrival of extra police in the building brought forth another storm. 'Phis lasted Again for some minutes, while Mr Fisher stood helplessly on the platform trying to make himself heard. “ Suppose wo make another start,” he began again. But it was of no use. Somebody cried .from the back that the Minister had better start his career all over again, and this caused a great deal of laughter and further uproar. “Adjourn the meeting 1” called one of ■Mr Fisher’s supporters. “Not” said the Minister. “Im here to stay. You can run away if you like. I’m not going to.’ (Cheers from the front seat.) . THE SEAMEN’S STRIKE. “ What about the Shipping and Seamen’s Act?” asked somebody. MrFisher; “If you wfcnt Ito know about-that, .you , keep quiet and 111 tell you. Well, now —— Somebody her© colled for Three cheers for Harry Holland. These were given, half the audience standing up and shouting with wonderfully combined lung-power. There was again a hot fire of interjections, amongst which •one could catch snatches of questions about-Royd Garlick and the Westport Harbour Board. _ . “What did you do down on the West Coast?” an interjector yelled. The uproar at this stage was worse than qver. Members of the audience got on their chairs and waved sticks and hats and refused absolutely to hear Mr Fisher. A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. After some minutes of this, by which time it was twenty minutes past- 8, Mr Fisher issued a challenge to “the Red Feds.” fo send up a man, on the platform to debate with him the principles of “Reform.” Air Harry Holland, was loudly called for. and within a minute was up on the’ stage. Cheer after cheer greeted him. and Mr Fisher’s suporters nooted wildly. There was a chorused question from the audience as to who the chairman was. Mr Holland: “I’ll take the chair while Mr Fisher speaks.” (Loud cheering.) It was announced by Mr Holland, who succeeded in gaining a good hearing, that Air Fisher would speak for an hour, and then he (Air Holland) would have half an hour. Ho appealed to the audience to give Mr Fisher a hearing. Air Fisher came forward again, but only to face a wild storm of hooting and booing. After some minutes of deafening uproar- Air E, J. Carey rose from the audience. - —~ “Sit down Carey!” came a yell from a hundred voiqes. “Wo came here to hear Air Fisher, not you 1” angrily called out one of the Minister’s supporters, waving his arms. This created a slight diversion, and there was heart3 r laughter. “ A PARTY AGAINST REASON.” Air Fisher again tried to make himaelf hoard above the din. After some futile efforts, ho got a few words in. “ You have s'novni to-night.” ho shouted out, “ that there is a section of the audience which wants to hear no side at all ” Loud cries of “ Scab !” “ Rot 1” and & couple of minutes of disorder. Air Fisher; “ and a party which ;im against reason— —’ ’

Second lady: "I am hot a society woman. Aly husband works, same as yours.” • ' First lady: “You don’t know what work is.” The dialogue then became so fierce that it was hard to say what the tenor of the quarrel was. But the two raised their voices so loudly that they became the centre of interest, and the audience surged towards the stage, and laughed and cheered na the ladies called each other a long list of had things. They nagged at each other for fully five minutes, everybody being doubled up with laughter at the progress of the quarrel. At last matters looked serious, for Mr Fisher’s supporter rose from her seat and threatened the other one with horrible things. In the meantime, Air Fisher tried to get going again, but ifc was of nd avail. There were frequent , appeals to the chair, but Mr Holland sat silent. “I am told,” broke in Air Fisher, “that I’ve got no hearing and no chance of getting one. That man must he a sport 1” i * EJECTIONS COMAIENCE.

A policeman had walked up the hall, and after leaning over the platform and giving some instructions to the body of the hall, Air Fisher shouted above the din: “I’ve made a fair proposition. Ive told these men (referring to the rowdy section) that if they keep quiet they can stay. But if they make a noise, they’ll have to get out.” A voice: “Put them out!” Tlie uproar continued with cries of “Bring the specials in again!” “You’ve taken twenty-five minutes off Air Holland’s time,” shouted Air Fisher, but nothing would quieten the crowd. There were six policemen in the hall at this stage. There was a particularly loud roar from one corner, and a constable and a sergeant approached the scene.

“Look out!” shouted voices. Mr Fisher beckoned to the policeman to remove the culprits. “Both of them! Take them out!” the Minister commanded. The interjcctors mere taken by the shoulders, and ejected. This was the signal for a howl of protest from the body of the hall. “Now. let’s get on,” said Mr Fisher. Several members of tho audience here clambered on to chairs, and yelled a demand that the two interjectors should bo brought back. “PACKED BY BED FEDS.”’ It was some moments before Mr Fisher got another hearing, but he had only got two words out. one of which was "strike,” when the howl was renewed. Mr Fisher (during a lull); “Tins meeting was readied up and packed hv the Bed Federation cf Labour!” (Uproar.) Here there were a number of foolishsounding cat calls. Mr Fisher. “Ha! Listen to that. That's the voice of the Federation of Labour.” (Uproar.) Mr Fisher shouted across to some interjectors about the way they had

treated the meeting. “You’re very good hands at dealing it out/” fie said, “but you can’t take it.” (This remark was simultaneously applauded and howled at.) THOSE SPECIALS.

“I’m told that the action of the Government was wrong in bringing in tho specials,” said Mr Fisher. Hero there were yells of assent to this view. There was an interjection which was inaudible to the press table, i Mr Fisher (to the interjector): “Y'e.s, and if you start any of those games we’ll bring ’em in again.” This remark, which was delivered with some emphasis, drew forth a demonstration from tho audience which lasted for some minutes. 1 MR LARACY REBUKED. Mr M. J. Laraey then stood up, with the idea apparently of asking for order. Mr Fisher (to him. angrily): “Sit down, cr you’ll be put out!” (uproar.) There was a further two minutes’ noise, during which Mr Fisher threatened several of the interjcctors writ ejection; In two places, noisy ones were hustled out by the police, to the accompaniment of wild cries. “Labour didn’t put you where you are!” yelled a voice. “You got there out of sympathy for your father!” called out a woman from the front of the hall. “Why did you join the Ministry?” asked another. Mr Fisher made another start. Referring to the strike, he said that ii wmi well under way before the Government lifted its little finger. Until there was disorder, tho strike did not come under the Government’s jurisdiction. Voices ; “The Government broke the law itself first.” Amidst further uproar, Mr Fisher said he had suspended the Shipping and Seamen Act because the seamen refused to work. Voices: “Why did they refuse?” Others; “Thev were locked out.” (Cheers.) Piero Mr Fisher threatened a member of the audience, “If I start on you ——” he said, “I’ll ” and the rest of his threat was lost in the din. OUT OF HAND. At eight minutes to 9, the audience became practically out of hand. Renewed cries came of “ Shut up!” “We don’t want you I” Several times the speaker was counted out. As the word “ Out!” was roared through tho hall, Mr Fisher said : “ You’ll be saying in November—- ‘ In!’ ” After further noise, Mr Fisher said: “ You don’t appear to be aware that there ai‘e still a large number of respectable people who go to meetings and don’t make a noise.” This was dissented from by a large number in the audience, and the uproar continued. Trying again, Mr Fisher said : “Well, I suppose I must take the Town Hall, and .then w'e’ll let the citizens see how you conduct yourselves!” More noise followed. “From one end of the Dominion to other reports will be telegraphed showing how The Social Democrats conduct themselves,” said Mr Fisher. Again, after a noisy demonstration, ho said: “ Why, it’s enough to condemn any party to have Mr Dowdall behind it.” (Uproar.) Voices: “Time!” (Applause.) Mr Fisher: “Oh, yes! Your methods are to be admired, 1 must say!” “WANT YOU FIRST!” Mr Fisher again appealed to the audience. “Give Mr Holland half an hour, and. then I’ll take half an hour,” he suggested. “To reply to him,” said a voice. “No fearl We want to have you first.” (Laughter and uproar.) Mr Fisher, in an interval of silence, said he wished to make a suggestion. “ I know it is hard to make a compact with a big audience, because it always contains some who will break it,” he said. “ I suggest that Mr Holland take his half-hour, and then ——” Voices: “NoI”

Air Fisher : “ Well* then, let Air Holland take his crowd out and leave me with mine in here.” There was a tremendous uproar after thA,

Mr Fisher: “Then T think, under the circumstances, since the hall is in my district and I have paid for it. I think I’ve done the fair thing to Mr Holland. I’ve asked the crowd 'to give us both a hearing and the Red Feds won’t let either of us,” “THE BRAND OF CAIN.”

A voice (above the ensuing din): “They haven’t got the brand of Cain on them, anyhow!” Air Fisher (to the interjector): “I didn’t know you had either.” (Uproar.) The voice: “The Government has got it, and Labour’s going to see about it, too.”

Another interjector: “Why did you turn your leasehold coat?” Here Air B. J. Carey hurled a question at the Alinister. “In the event of a no-confidence motion, how would you vote ” “AVith the Government,” declared Air Fisher, at which there were yells and jeers. In answer to another question, Air Fisher shouted, “I’m going to strive for a six-day week for every man, woman and child in the, country.” “What if the Cabinet doesn’t agree to it, what will you do?” Voices: “Resign!” Others: “Not he!” LEASEHOLDER OR FREEHOLDER “Air Fisher,” yelled another questioner above the noise, “will you tell us whether you are a leaseholder or a freeholder ” The question evoked a great burst of laughter. As he could get no further with his speech, Air Fisher stepped back, and Air Holland came forward. There was a burst of yells, cheers, hoots and groans. Women got on their chairs and cheered and shouted. Alen kept up an incessant .stamping with feet and walking sticks. The noise came mostly from the front part of the hall, and in spit© of Air Holland’s appeals, continued on with undiminished strength. There wore punctuations of “Cheers for Holland,” and snatches of “The Red Flag.” The noise was uninterrupted and it swelled into a roar whenever Air Holland tried to speak. He stood on the platform waiting for a hearing, and after some minutes turned to Air Fisher and pointed to a noisy group of ladies, evidently .suppouters of the Alinister. “THESE SOCIETY LADIES!”

Air Holland shouted down to the press table; “I’ve just asked Air Fisher to get the police to remove these society ladies who are making all the noise, and ho won’t.” This created a further storm, the crowd at the back of the hall calling txpon the police to remove Air Fisher’s supporters, who were creating most of the noise to prevent Air Holland from speaking. At twenty minutes to 10 a crash sounded above the stamping of feet in

the hall. A stone, thrown from outside cracked the window nearest the right of the stage. Ladies look alarmed, but the .frequent interjections, catcalls, and snatches of song in the hall distracted their attention; otherwise very little would have been needed to start a stampede for the door. Mr Holland here handed to the press table a copy of a resolution which, he said, would have been carried by a large majority if it had been put:—

“That this meeting of "Wellington citizens, convened by the Reform party, records its emphatic condemnation of the Massey Government for its general maladministration of the law during the past eighteen months, and especially for its endorsement of lawlessness and violence at Waihi; its class bias and hostility to the bona firjo workers in the recent industrial dispute; its distortion of the Arbitration Act; and its suppression of free speech in Parliament.” THE MEETING BREAKS UP.

At ten minutes to 10 it was obvious that there could be no address of any kind given. Some of the lights in the hall were put out, and some of the audience began to leave. Mr Holland (to his supporters) : “Don’t go! I’ll speak, afterwards!” But the presence of a burly sergeant of police on the stage altered the aspect of things. The sergeant requested Mr Holland to leave the hall. The latter refused, but after some argument, the officer took Mr Holland by the arm and led him off tho stage. Mingling with his followers, Mr Holland shouted: “I would" just like to tell you that Mr Fisher gave orders to have me removed by force.” A loud booing greeted the announcement. As the audience left the hall there were cheers for Sir Joseph Ward, and general uproar. WAITING FOR DEVELOPMENTS. After the meeting an expectant crowd hung around the vicinity of the gateway, apparently in anticipation of meeting the principal actors in. the drama, but the speakers had quietly disappeared, and no further disturbance occurred. A motor-car was in waiting, and an impression existed that the vehicle was to ‘convey the Minister home, but this proved to be incorrect, as the car was driven away by a lady who was not directly concerned with the proceedings. Still the crowd were loth to leave, and several policeman had a busy time in moving people on before they finally dispersed.