ANTI-PROHIBITIONISTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 58, 23 October 1911, Page 5

ANTI-PROHIBITIONISTS.

SPEAKERS CHASED AND ASSAULTED, (Per Press Association) Ashburton, October 22. On the four >ast Saturday night; no-lieense advocates have addressed open-air meetings from the railway; Reserve abutting on the main street and right in the centre of the town. They have throughout been received in anything but a cordial manner and have twice been subjected to very objectionable remarks. A week ago the speakers were practically howled down, but this was mild f>-) -'what happened last night," when between, four and five hundred people assembled, many for the purpose of seeing the fun. The first speaker had a moderate hearing, though the younger section of the crowd to some extent succeedded in drowning his voice by singing “Wo’ll roll the old chariot away* Whenf he concluded he seemingly* stepped back to far and fell from the waggon which was used as a platform’. He then attempted to retire from the meeting but was prevented. 'A clergyman was now speaking hut Hej liad not gone 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 excitely 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 yards up the street made for him and threw him over the courthouse fence. He escaped, %nd the crowd began to quieten at the presence of several policeman, two of whom had earlier had to eject and arrest a drunken man who was making obnoxious remarks near the waggon, largely assisting to this end. The meeting had in the meantime closed in good humored disorder. Even the assaults and 1 chases were good humored as far as could be seen. The no-license leaders accept the incident in the best spirit, and have not j et decided whether to prosecute. The names of some of the assailants are known to the speakers. The Rev. T. R. B. Woolloxall says he has been threatened with violence by several people, whose names will he given to the police, but this and last night’s scene 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 the general business, the fruiterers, confectioners, refreshment room keepers, hairdressers 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.”

The Ashburton “Guardian,” in deploring the outbreaks, calls for a greater orderliness, and a larger measure of British fairplay.