Specials Show Spleen

NZ Truth, Issue 443, 13 December 1913, Page 2

Specials Show Spleen

Because • Detriocfat. Tops Poll.

The special constables stationed at Lyttelton on Tuesday night accepted the defeat of the Reform candidate and the success ol the Social Democratic nominee- with ugly grace. Mr. McConibs was. carried shoulder high and followed py a crowd of some thousands from the electoral office to ihp railway station. At the station, the entrance to the platform was guarded by a cordon of "specials" and regulars, the former, by their manner clearly indicating that they were looking i for' troubled Assistant Habor 'Organiser Jimmy Thorn essayed to adj dress the crowd m place of Mr. 1 Me-. Combs, who called upon, again and again by the crowd for ft speech. . Addressing the gathering, and thanking them on behalf of the Labor candidate, Mr. Thorn, who took up his stand. on the platform, outside the station, was surrounded by several "specials," who, m wielding their V.D.L r bludgeons, struck a woman on the The woman's husband remonstrated with the offending "special," and was promptly shove& off the platform into the crowd below. The rest of the angry "specials" then attempted to hustle Mr. Thorn off the platform, but ho appealed to a regular constable, who told him he had a perfect right to speak. Major Lurch then pushed his frame into the centre of activities, and, selling. Mr. Thorn by tho arm, pulled him inside the cordon of "specials," and ! excitedly exclaimed, "You aro inciting the crowd to riot !■" Mr. Thorn quietly called a police sergeant, who uphold him m appeal for tho right to speak. Resuming his speech, Mr. Thorn | urged the peoplo present to see to .it that McCombs again topped the poll In the second ballot. "Go homo I quietly now, boys," concluded Mr. Thorn, "and have your holiday at tho ballot-box next' Tuesday." In keeping with its usual policy of misrepresentation, tho Chrlstchurch "Press" next morning turned the episode into Reform party capital, and carefully disregarded tho facts which were likely to have cast an unfavorable light on Colonel Chaffey's cherubs.