NO-LICENSE MEETING

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 53

NO-LICENSE MEETING

DISORDER AT ASHBURTON.

ASHBURTON, October 22

On the past, four Saturday nights nolicense advocates have addressed open-air meetings from the Railway Reserve, abutting Main street, and right, in the centre of the town. They have throughout been received in anything but a cotdial manner, and have twice been subjected to very objectionable remarks. A week ~ago the speakers were practically howled down, but this was mild to what happened last night, when between 400 and 500 people assembled, many for the purpose of seeing the fun. The first speaker had a moderate bearing, though the younger section of the crowd to some extent succeeded in drowning his voice by singing " We'll roll old chariot away," etc. When he concluded he seemingly back stepped too far and fell from the waggon which was used a* a platform. He then attempted to retire from*the meeting, but was pretenbed. A clergyman was now speaking, but he had not got far when a sympathiser who was with him in the waggon holding a torch was pulled from behind, and sustained a nasty fall. He turned and closed with his assailant, and the crowd excitedly surged after them. The assailant escaped, and the pursuer also reached a place of greater safety, hut the crowd, who were mostly" antagonistic, were now excited, and, catching sight of the first speaker a few ya.rde up the street, made for him, and threw. him over the courthouse fence. He escaped, and the crowd began to quieten in the presence of several policemen, two of whom had earlier to eject and arrest a drunken man, who was making obnoxious remarks near the waggon. Largely assisting to this end, the meet-, ing had meantime closed in goodhumoured disorder. Even the assaults and chases we>*e gocd-humoured so far as could be seen. The no-license leaders accept the incident in the best spirit, and have not yet decided whether to prosecute the assailants, the names of some of whom are known to the speakers. The Rev. T. R. B. WooUbxall says he had been, threatened with violence by several people, whose names will be given to the police, but this and last night's scenes will not deter the No-license party - from continuing the meetings. He also expressed the opinion that the opponents of no-license had " primed " a number of men, who made themselves obnoxious, and that they were organising. Though the meetings do not commence till 8.45. p;m., so as not to interfere with general business, the fruiterers, confectioners, refreshment-room keepers, hairdretsers, and tobacconists, who remain open and do good business till 10 and after, complain that their takings are much affected, as the shops are immediately, deserted in favour of the "fun." Tha (ruirdian, in deporing the outbreaks, calls. foT greater orderliness and a larger measure of British fairplay.