MR MASSEY AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Southland Times, Issue 16785, 13 July 1911, Page 4

MR MASSEY AT CHRISTCHURCH.

No one could have foreseen the unprecedented scenes which marked Mr Massey's meeting at Christchurch ou Tuesday night, or could have anticipated the thronging crowds, the turmoil and disorder which rendered it impossible to proceed with the address by the Leader of the Opposition, The obstruction of the meeting seems to have been due to a variety of causes. In the first place there is no large hall in Christchurch available for meetings of the kind, and air Massey’s committee were compelled by necessity to take a hall with a capacity of only 1,200 people. Then, interest in politics seems to be extremely active in Christchurch, so that a very large number of people, stimulated probably by the success of Mr Massey’s meeting at Wellington last week, desired to hear the Leader of the Opposition state and expound the policy of his party. Further, interest in the meeting had been excited to quite an unusual degree by the train of events which placed on the same platform two men between whom there is strong personal feeling. In Parliament last session Mr

Massey alleged that if he were allowed to state publicly what he knew of Mr Taylor’s connection with the Seddon-Taylor case Mr Taylor’s political career would be finished. At once Mr Taylor challenged Mr Massey to repeat his accusation in some place where he would not be protected against legal action by Parliamentary privilege. He gave him the fullest freedom to take the platform and tell all he knew, and asserted bluntly that Mr Massey would not take the platform because he knew nothing. Since then Mr Taylor has been elected Mayor of Christchurch, and when he was asked in his capacity as Mayor to preside over Mr Massey's meeting he at once assented, but took occasion to recall Mr Massey's statement and to challenge him again to give to a Christchurch audience from the public platform the knowledge which he claimed to possess. There is no doubt that expectation of a reference by Mr Massey in Mr Taylor’s presence to Mr Taylor’s challenge would attract hundreds of people to the meeting, and the combination of these causes led to scenes of turbulence and the abandonment of the meeting as described in our issue of yesterday. There is no suggestion whatever that the meeting was packed by Mr Taylor’s friends. Mr Massey appears to have been satisfied that on the whole the meeting was friendly to him. It is very satisfactory to learn from Mr Massey that he intended to refer to the SeddonTaylor case, and to have his promise that he' will return to Christchurch and address the people there. In View of the approach of the general elections it is imperative that Mr Massey should put himself right with the country in respect to his allegation against Mr Taylor. Mr Taylor’s challenge cannot be ignored. He has asked Mr Massey either to make a full statement in public of the information he claims to possess, or to repeat his general allegation in public bo that he (Mr Taylor) may obtain redress in the Law Courts. So challenged, Mr Massey is in an untenable position. He is bound either to substantiate his statement or withdraw' It, and though his intention has been frustrated on this occasion, it is to be hoped that he will find an early opportunity of returning to Christchurch and from the public platform making his promised explanation with regard to the Seddon-Taylor case.