MUDDLING MUNRO.

NZ Truth, Issue 91, 16 March 1907, Page 6

MUDDLING MUNRO.

That Sunday Performance.

Muddling Molly Munro, manager of the Exhibition, was responsible for the most descreditable Sunday scene that has ever been witnessed m Christchurch last Sabbath, when the Besses o' th 1 Barn Band gave a sacred concert m aid of the Seddon Memorial. There was something like a riot at -one of the gates owing to the tricky tactics oi muddlssame Molly. There should have been no stated charge for admission at all ; it was distinctly illegal to make a fixed charge of a shilling, but the skimpy schemer fixed that as the tariff, law or no law. And that tariff had to be paid. But note the artfulness of the devilish dodger ; he didn't advertise the amount m any of the papers, merely saying that contributions would be received at the outer gates only, and not elsewhere. The vast majority consequently went along thinking that they could gain admission with a silver coin, and when they were asked, for a bob apiece and a sprat for the nippers, most refused and tried "•'to force their way back through the dense , throng. There was a great/ row at all ths gates, and Collins, who looks after these barriers, rushed m to boss Munro and told him of the clamorings of the people without, many oi whom hadn't brought a bob' with them, or not enough to pay for their families. But Mugwump Munro was a?2;ressive and adamant ; his instructions were that nothing less than a shilling be accepted from an adult. If they didn't like to pay that they

, COULD GO TO SHEOL, or words to that efiect. So a board was stuck up at the entrances notifying that the admission was the price mentioned. Over nine thousand people entered the enclosure, and whati happened when they got to the sports ground ? Payment of another bob had to be made to gain admission to the front circle, and back chairs were' charged for, as well as programmes. Yet it was advertised that contributions would be accepted at the outer gate only. The wonder is that the air they breathed wasn't charged for also. Poor women who had no more cash had to stand all the afternoon. The crowd characterised the extra charges as a gross swindle, and evidenced great repugnance towards Munro, remarks about whom were as loud as a bombardment. In the meantime fully ten thousand people were outside the gates, and along; the river banks, and assembled m the Park behind the sports ground. A determined assault was made on one of the gates by the mob, who sought to carry it by storm, but they were unsuccessful ; the attendants lined up against it on the opposite side, and a posse of police arrived and restored something like order. Some of the best people m the city refused to enter the grounds, not on account of the shilling illegally charged, but the scandalous scheming swindline: way m which the business was -done. They sympathised with the crowd. The name of monstrous Munro was m everybody's mouth, and hundreds expressed the intention of waiting for him m the evening and pitching him into the river. They spoke m a most minatory manner, but Munro never gave them a show to carry out their threat. It was a shocking scene to be witnessed on a SaJbbath, and what visitors thought can be guessed. The truth is that when strangers talk of Munro and his mad management Christchurch neople blush with very shame; but ihsv thank God that the umehaw isn't a permanent Christchurch resident.