COMPULSORY TRAINING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 81, 9 August 1913, Page 5

COMPULSORY TRAINING.

ANTI-MILITARISTS HOWLED DOWN. [Per Press Association.] Ashburton, August 8. » Four anti-militarists from Christchurch attempted to hold what they announced as an anti-cotflscriptior meeting in the Theatre Royal to-night The building was crowded, between GOO and 700 persons being present. The Mayor presided, but the audi eucp, nearly all of whom were pal pably in favor of the Dominion defence scheme, practically refused to hear bin or the twq speakers who attempted to speak afterwards. ~; i: ■:

Mr John P. F. Fletcher, of Austra lia J a ros'd to speak'at 8.10, but iron.! chi applause, cat-calls, hoots, and th; singing of patriotic and popular song continued until he resumed his sea' half-an-hour later. What remark? he had to make during that time hac been enti relv inaudible.

The Mayor was powerless and tin police inoperative, on account of tlr high good humour and unity of tin audience, which included a strong body of representative citizens.

Appeals for a fair hearing wer; made by Mr C. W. Nicholls, an ex borough councillor, and chairman o the local branch of the Navy League and by Mr C. J. Harper, chairmai of the County Council, whq, were als< unsuccessful, and when Mr Reg. Wil bams, one of the number who had been detained at Ripa Island, anc who had been eagerly calk’d for by the crowd during Mr Fletcher’s speech rose to speak, the pandemonium war intensified. 'Ho desisted at nim o’clock, when Mr Nicholls, from th back of the theatre, secured silene and moved a resolution: .“That tinmeeting of Ashburton citizens eon aiders that universal training is ir the host interests of the moral, phy oical, and national welfare of tin Dominion.”

This was greeted with great enthu si asm, and fin a show of hands only the speakers on the platform, and fron four to six at the most in the body oi the hall voted against it. ft was ae eordingly declared carried amids cheers.

The National Anthem was the snug, and the meeting commenced t< disperse, though only the presence of the police stopped what looked like developing into a nasty demonstratior alien the speakers remained seateddu’ing the singing of the anthem. A 1 lint a handful then left the theatre and as the doors were closed, the sub sequent proceedings are not ye’ known. Young Williams attempted to speal outside, but fearing trouble, the police moved him on, and. at 10 p.m. all had disnersed.