CIRCUS ROW AT HASTINGS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5360, 18 February 1916, Page 2

CIRCUS ROW AT HASTINGS.

TROUBLE OVER CHARGES

Trouble arose on the occasion of the visit of Wirth’s Circus to Hastings. The “Telegraph’ states: The immense crowd awaiting entrance grew restive owing to the 2s ticket box not being openee until 8 pan., and the fact that the box was shut down soon after it was opened, whilst that the 3s tj’eikets being withdrawn within a short period after that caused the throng to got resentful. The people commenced boohing and hooting, and then they began to make demonstrations against the ticket officials, threatening to upset the waggons. Three lordly elephants were put into commission as police, and they patrolled amongst the crowd with Heavy dignity, <md gently waving trunks, The populace divided into human lanes liefore their advance. The bulky beasts made no aggression, but the inass incited before the magnitude. In the meanwhile persons at the 3s box dropped their money in the swaying crush and the excitement increased. One man rushed an official, and, followed by a section of the crowd, hustled him and rushed him over the ground until he found refuge in the tent. Ir was whispered amongst the crowd that the tent should be pulled down, or that, at least, the stays should In' loosened, but Clio saner counsels pointed out that that would only endanger the lives of the audience. Constables McGrner and Brenchley took (matters in hand, and atfier arresting a man with some difficulty, affairs quietened down, the performance by this time being well advanced and the work of dismantling having already commenced. When the cheaper tickets were withdrawn the crowd protested, but large numbers went to the os box, one man saying: “I came twenty miles to see it, and if I have to pay 15s for a ticket I will do so.” People protested that, long after the tent was full, the os tickets wer e being sold. The public seem to have a just cause for complaint against the proprietors for their procedure, and the Borough Council should ascertain their powers regarding the control of this class of show. If they have no other recourse they might charge these people a prohibitive license, which,{with the exception of the ordinary fee) would bo returned if they carried out their business according to the terms laid down bv the Council.

A young man appeared before the Mayor and Mr W. Hi slop, J'.P.. charged with threatening behaviour win re by a breach of tin* peace was occasioned at Wirth Bros.’ circus. Accused pleaded guilty. Constable McGruer deposed that there was some trouble over the sale of tickets and the crowd were in the act of rushing the tent. The tickets were advertised at os. 4s. 3s and 2s. but no 2s tickets were -old until 8 p.m., and thou the “house” was full. The crowd was in a peculiar mood and were speaking as if they liad been “had,” and there was danger of a. riot. Accused wanted to tight an employee of the circus, and he refused to leave when the constable asked him to go, so ho was arrested. He was under the influence of drink. There were nmtterings of pulling the tent down, which would have been attended with disaster to the people inside, and there was danger of a disturbance. The Mayor said that no doubt the cause of flit' act was that the circus proprietary did not sell the tickets at the prices advertised, to which the people took exception, but the Bench had nothing to do with that, and accused most certainly had no right to take the law into his own hands.

Accused .was fined £il and costs 2s, or in dofalut 48 hours’ imprisonment, and at tlie request of Sergeant Hogan a prohibition order was issued against, him.