A COMICAL MEETING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11531, 7 May 1918, Page 8

A COMICAL MEETING.

Per Press Association.

Christclmrch, May 6. A meeting culled to protest against remarks made at Amberley recently by Mr Holland, Mayor of Christchurch, in which he advised departing soldiers not to bring back English factory pirls as wives, was held to-night in the Trades Hell. The meeting was disordefly throughout, and the proceedings were decidedly humorous.

The Chairwoman called for speakers, whereupon a lady mounted the platform and harangued the audiencs at seme length un the ways of English girls unci women, who did not spend their husbands' money, the "poor little Belgiums," and a number of other During the eourss of her remarks she fstated that the costume she had on was five ye its old. (Wild applause). A resolution was put by a returned soldier, "That this meeting demand a public t-pclogy from the flavor for his slander of English girls.' Amid considerable uproar the„motion wns declared carried. A further nctioo,. "That this meeting go up to the Mayor's house and m«ke him apologise tight away," was defeated, the principal opposer stating that if they did go to the Mayor's house there would be forty thousand police about, and the newspapers would say it was a disgraceful scene. A lady member of the audience then the meeting should go up in a ladylike m::uner. (Laughter.' It was decided to demand a public apology thrnugh the Prcs-). A femile voic : "Through Sir James Allen "

A number of people then attempted to speak together, and there was considerable disorder, above which the voicc< of the chairwoman could be head vainly demanding peace. Eventually n committee was elected to deal with the matter one of those elected being; the returned soldier who'moved the first resolution. Upon his declining to be one of the committee he was violently harangued by a woman in the audience, but eventually, on the voices, it w«s decided to allow him to retract

The meeting then adjourned