DISGRACEFUL FREE FIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1930, Page 8

DISGRACEFUL FREE FIGHT

SCHOOL OPENING FUNCTION COMMITTEE ENGAGES IN MELEE. ANIMOSITY COMES TO SURFACE. ( By Wire—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, Last Night. Following a social, gathering on the occasion of the opening of the new Honikiwi school, near Otorohanga, and in the presence of the school children and parents a disgraceful free fight took place among the settlers of the district. It appears that, a settler asked the chairman whether the new school could be used for dances, and not receiving what he considered to be a satisfactory reply he asked further questions. Thi« led to a member of the school committee interjecting “Shut up!” and brought the retort from the first speaker that he would knock his “block” off. Both men rose to make for each other. The chairman tried to part them and in so doing a settler was struck on the jaw. The chairman was also struck in the ensuing melee, and then other members of the school committee joined in while women shrieked and some of them fainted.

Apparently deep-seated animosity came 'to the surface and suggestions about marked sheep only served to infuriate some of. the men concerned, There were no intoxicants at the gathering. Honikiwi is ten miles from Otorohanga in isolated back country. Earlier in the day Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., and Mrs. Broadfoot had formally opened the new school. They left at an “early hour for Otewa to attend the breaking-up” ceremonies at" the school there.