“GETTING TOGETHER.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 3

“GETTING TOGETHER.”

lack of harmony at labour MEETINGS. REDS v. GREENS. One of the most persistent pieces of advice given by tlic Labour leaders is that, the workers should "get together.” Some of the workers, apparently, do not like each other when they do follow this advice. On Sunday, November 30, a meeting was held by the Labour Club, when Mr (,'. M. Moss gave an address on “Socialism us Laid Down by Mr Ramsay Macdonald.” During the course of the address Mr Moss remarked that policemen were inquired; where, he asked, would they bo without policemen to safeguard thorn? This prompted a well-known local follower of the principles embraced under the banner of the Red Flag to interject that they did not need to go outside the hall for any policeman—they had one of themselves in the hull who was acting in this capacity, although ho was not enrolled as a member of the force. This statement acted iiko the proverbial red rag to a bull to the labour man thus indicated, who may for the purposes of this story bo refrred to as “Mr B.” The interjecting “Red Fodder” was immediately requested to remove his presence from the hall, and ho did so after some demur, being accompanied by another “Red Fodder.” ’thus ends act 1. A week really does elapse in this playlet, and act 2 opened at the same hall on Sunday night last. The leading parts were enacted by the same cast of characters, but one or two other persons had been introduced into the play. Cr MacManus was to speak on this occasion on Municipal Affairs.” (It should be remembered that this is not a play with a plot.) The “Red Fedder” in chief and his faithful lieutenant were early in attendance. The chief was promptly stopped at the door by “Mr B.” and told he could not enter. This surprised him, and he wanted to know why. lie was informed by “Mr B. that once a man bad been ordered out of one of their meetings he was automatically debarred from attending any subsequent meeting. The chief “Red Fedder” said ho was going into the meeting at any rate he knew of no such rule -arid the meeting would have to decide whether he could stay —and in he pushed. The appearance of the stormy petrel caused a .flutter in the dovecots of those present, if it is not straining similes too much to put it this way. “Mr B.” refused to let the meeting go on, left, the chair and conferred with Cr MacManus and another. A member of the audience. While the trio were thus engaged the chief “ Red Fodder ” addressed the meeting. He said that although the chair was unoccupied he would propose a motion to me effect that he and his lieutenant be permitted to remain. This motion, it is stated, was put and carried without a dissentient voice. . . , The conferring trio paid no heed to the wishes of the meeting, nor did they relax at all when Mr C. M. Moss tried to intercede. In fact, they clicked all the closer. The result of the clicking was that a policeman was sent for. He requested the chief “Red Fedder” and His lieutenant to go out. The chief refused to do so. and said the policeman would have to put him out. The pair, however, then went out, and Cr MacMenus proceeded to tell his audience of the manner in which the City Council runs its affairs. . . It is not known whether there is to be a third act. The chief “Red Fedder” says there may be, and that the title of the play should be “The Reds v. the Greens.”