ROWDYISM AT PUBLIC MEETINGS. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9904, 24 November 1893, Page 4

ROWDYISM AT PUBLIC MEETINGS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sin, —If one-tenth part of the rowdyism—or, if you like, senseless blackguardism—by wlrch Mr Nicol's meeting in the City Hall last night was interrupted had taken place at any concert or other amusement, the police would have been called in, the perpetrators summarily ejected, and probably invited to explain their conduct to Mr Carew; but because the meeting is a political one, and not, say, for the exhibition of waxworks, or a Punch and Judy show, any idiotic blackguardism ia tolerated, if nob encouraged. Where is our vaunted British love of fairplay ? Mr Nicol (whom I don't even know by sight) paid for the hall, and was seeking to place his views of the political situation before the electors—a perfectly legitimate thing for anyone to do in our democracy. No one need have gone to the hall unless he liked, but doing so, was certainly under an obligation to behave decently. No wonder that there is a difficulty in getting suitable parliamentary representatives ! What has become of the predicted purifying and elevating influenca cf the female element in our electoral sj'3tetii ? It was not much in evidence on this occasion, for your report states that a considerable number of women were present, but I do not observe that any of them raised a voice in protest. Here, then, is a matter of reform ready to hand for our women to take up:—Let them urge that legal provision should be made for the preservation of order on such occasions, and, in the meantime, let them have the courage of the responsibility which has been placed upon them, and demand fairplay for all candidates, whoever they may be. —l am, &c, Dunediu, November 23. S. P. Q R.