BLOCKED!

NZ Truth, Issue 438, 15 November 1913, Page 5

BLOCKED !

Herdman's Harassing Action.

In addition to his kindness m allowing the Waterside Workers -to use the old Theatre Royal building for a meeting on -Tuesday morning last, Johnnie Fuller had also offered it .to the Seamen's Union for a similar function at 2.80 o'clock on the afternoon. At two ' o'clock word was passed round; that J something had gone wrdiig with- tho -works — that\ thfe Government had taken a hand. Strength 'Was lent to this rumor by the fact that mounted police and mounted "special" constables were parading up and down tho street. In the morning, not even tho r ORDINARY "JOHN 'OP'^WAS VISIBLE. About 2..10 Johnnie Fuller put m an appearance, and "Truth's" rop. promptly interviewed him. He stated that after the Waterside meeting had dispersed, he received a letter from tho Government forbidding the use of the building for any purpose whatsoever, without its consent. Howover, Johnnie thought a moment, and then said, "I can arrange the King's Theatre. I think." The telephone was put into operation, and, m a very few minutes, tho noon were instructed to meet thero at half-past three o'clock, . It appears that the Fuller Proprietary has sold to tho Government its lease of the ground on which tho Royal stands, which purposes to use it for police barracks. Johnnio Is under contract to pull the building down m a certain time, so, did ho go contrary to the wishes of tho powers that bo, there* would be a chance of trouble for him. What tho harassing Herdmnn hopes to achieve by such pin^prickjng tactics passeth the understanding of tho ordinary man m the street. If ho had sot out purposely to mako

himself personally unpopular and the Cabinet of which he is o member detested by all liberty-loving lieges, he could scarcely have gone about the matter m a manner more calculated to achieve his end than by the vexatious and vindictivo edicts which have of late become characteristic of his Department, and justifies to the very letter the nickname of Neroic Herdman.