DIRECT ACTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19044, 18 June 1936, Page 15

DIRECT ACTION

HECTIC CITY MEETING

WOMEN JOIN IN FRAY

FISTS AND TONGUES USED

COMMUNISTS GAIN SWAY

(Per Press Association.) CHRJSTCHI'P.CH, this day. Disorderly scenes culminating in two men being assaulted were witnessed as. a preliminary to a meeting held at the Trades Hall last, night to consider the future, administration of the Christchurch branch of the. national unemployed workers' movement.

Cue man who entered the room a few minutes alter the opening of the proceedings was knocked flat, on his back before he had time to find himself a seat. His wife and two companions, who witnessed the blow, rushed into the fray, and in an exceedingly lively and unconventional manner, revenged the husband, while he was still struggling back from the obscure and silent realms of unconsciousness to the more real and more rowdy scenes of his immediate surroundings.

The ringleader of the rowdy tactics was a. man who has had no official association with the unemployed for over 12 months. lie was responsible, for the assault, and had a bodyguard who were obviously ready to take a hand immediately any attempt was made upon their leader. Their hands were stayed while the three women lashed the man with their tongues and their fists, hut (.heir attitude, forboded trouble for any others who felt an urge to take an active part.

WARNING OF SOP.OTAGi: The meeting was attended by 150 members of the movement. The majority had been warned that an attempt would be made by a Communistic element tc sabotage the meeting, and it was only bv the exercise of the greatest restraint by the sober-minded majority, during the. decidedly lively prelude to the meeting, that a general riot was avert ed.

Assaults were deliberately made upon two men with the object of provoking further disorder, and when this failed the members Of the meeting came ill for a torrent of abuse couched in language of a "most lurid order.

After a stormy interval, Mr, 11. Glanville, secretary' of the local Com niunist party, wa*s appointed to tin chair.

The minute secretary, Mr. R. Burgess, then declined to act. He was a member of the retiring executive. His refusal to take, any official part in the meeting brought him in for abuse, and later an attack was made upon him by a man who had been responsible for much ol the disorder.

After further noisy outbreaks, the leadership of the local Communists was acclaimed. Nominations were called for to fill 12 vacancies on th» executive, but only seven were filled. The remain ing vacancies will remain open for six weelts. at which time nominations will close and the new executive will set about the work of reorganising the movement in accordance with its Com monistic policy.