WELLINGTON. January 17. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2497, 22 January 1902, Page 17

WELLINGTON. January 17. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

The patriotic meeting calleil for the purpose of passing a resolution apprm ing the British conduct of the war :ii South Africa, and Mr Chamberlain's refutation of the foreign slanders attracted thousand? of citizens, amongst whom the working classes were prominent. Long before the time of meeting the Theatre Royal was packed from floor to ceiling, and many arriving afterwards were unable to gain admittance to the building. During the half-hour before the speechifying a band played patriotic airs amidst much enthusiasm, the audience rising <and cheering the. King as a bar of the National Anthem "was played. Then someone called f«r "Three cheers for Chamberlain," which were gi\en with equal enthusiasm. A reference to " noble and loyal Canada" also evoked great enthusiasm, the people rising in their seats and cheering anew. Mr Harry Smith, formerly of Dunedin, sang a patriotic song, " When the Empire call-.," with telling effect. Mr Bruce, formerly member of Parliament for Rangitikei, delivered an able speech, remarkable for its diction and patriotic feeling. Sir Robert Stout also spoke well. An overflow meeting was held in the open air in front of the post office, Sir Joseph Ward being the principal speaker. An unfortunate incident in connection with the demonstration was the fact that Mr Atkinson, M H.R., for tho City, who had been asked to move the r^=olutn>n, \va< barred by the Premier, to whom the committee somewhat weakly gave way. Mr Atkinson explains the circumstances as follows;—" Yesterday moroiDjj I attended by

invitation a meeting of the committee which was making arrangements for the public demonstration in the Theatre Royal to-day, and was asked to move the resolution to be submitted. On ascertaining that it was not of a " fire-eating ' or irritating character I acceded with pleasure to the request. At a subsequent stage in the meeting, when the question of other speakers was under discussion, I volunteered to stand down from the place allotted me and take any other position the committee might like if it would lighten their tp?k of arranging the order It was explained to me in reply that the question was not a personal one, but that I had beeneselected for the houour ex officio as the senior member for tho City are not available. I had been selected for the honour ex officio as the senior member for the city availab'e. The committee was unanimous both m its original request to me and in declining to accept mv su^sjestion to reopen the matter. Among the speakers to be invited was the Premier, and a subcommittee was appointed to pay him and other speakers the same courtesy that had been extended to myself — viz., that of seeing the proposed resolution before it was finally settled. In the afternoon the committee met again, and the sub-committee reported that they had interviewed the Premier, who expressed himself in substantial accord with the resolution as submitted, but strongly disapproved of an M H.R. being askect to move the resolution. He considered that such a step would give the martpr a political colour, which would he v great mistake. It was a citizens' meeting, and it should be in their hands alone. It wa-5 pointed out to him that I was a citizen of 10 vear«' standing, as well as a politician ; but the Premier was obdurate — no politician should either move or second the resolution.- -and he suggested the chairman of tho Chamber of Commerce or of the 'Harbour Board a« a fit and proper person for the position. He felt so strongly upon the point that he must absolutely decline to attend the meeting if an M.H.R. were retained as mo\er of the resolution. The subcommittee having presented their rcpoit, I was called upon to plead. Mr reply \v»o that though in the morning I had volunteered my readiness to give up tho honourable position the committee had allotted me, I could make no such offer now. I had been willing to put myself entirely in the hands of the citizens of Wellington through their committee, but, whatever the decision of the committee might now be, I felt it to be incompatible with mv respect for my constituency or myself to accept dirtation from an outride source, from one whose expression of opinion to tho citizens of Wel'mston of their management of their own meeting was, in the strictest sense of the term, a sheer impertinence. I should therefore speak in the place the committee had originally allotted me, or not speak at all, and if their decision necessitated the latter alternative I should feel obliged to publish the reasons for my failure to attend the meeting. In order, however, that no note of discord should mar the meeting in any «ny, I should withhold the publication till after the meeting After full discu=sion the committee ultimately decided to rescind their previous invitation to me, and to adopt the propiamme which ha= 'nice been published. Thrpo members of the committee voted for this motion, the four others (in eluding myself) declining to vote I re-o,ue-ted that they should put on record that their only reason for the change was the refusal of the Premier to attend t'io meeting if the original programme was adhered to, but this suggestion was not acted on. At the same time, I wish to emphasise that they treated me personally with the utmost eourte-y, and I am satisfied their one aim vas to ensure a sucees'lul meeting A sufficient proof of the good feeling on both sides is afforded by their kindness in closing the proceedings with a vote of thanks to me for my action in the matter."