NO-LICENSE ORATORS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10302, 6 November 1911, Page 1

NO-LICENSE ORATORS.

— ATTEMPTS TO BREAK UP THEIR MEETINGS. AN ORGANISED DISTURBANCE. A regrettable scene oi : ''hoodlumism " occurred in Cathedral Square shortly after half-past nine on Saturday night, at the conclusion of a nolicense "rally" conducted by Mr J. M'Cullough and others. The early portion of tho meeting was orderly enough, and the speakers were being accorded a fair hearing when a number of noisy young men, ior whom Mr J. Petherick appeared to bo spokesman, endeavoured to open an opposition meeting. The crowd appeared to resent the interference, and the oppositionists moved off to I»ir Petherick s •committee rooms, where Mr Petherick addressed them from an upstairs window. At the conclusion of the prohibition "rally" the rowdy element moved across the Square and commenced to hustle tho speakers. Mr J. M'CuUoiigh received a blow on the face, and was thru.?!; at with a stick, and there were signs of a general melee until a policeman appeared!. An appeal for fair play on behalf, of the women speakers failed to quieten the crowd, and the speakers were hustled towards the United Service Hotel, at the same time being subjected to various opprobrious epithets. Tho arrival of tlie police acted as a check upon the crowd, however, and Mr M'Cullcugh was able to depart quietly. A disturbance also occurred at the Clock Tower prohibition meeting last evening, Mr Petherick opening a coun-ter-meeting; to tho one conducted by Mr J. M'Combs. The. audience at Mr M'ComWs meeting was, however, sympathetic to the cause of prohibition, and Mr Potherick's following was limited to a comparatively small section of those present. The meeting finished' early, and the rowdy element made oft' to tho meeting conducted in Victoria Square by the Rev R. 3. Gray, where til ere were some 3000 people present. A noisy meeting followed, the new arrivals shouting in concert and interjecting after every statement made by the speaker, until Sir Gray was unable to continue his speech, and the meeting closed. A heated argument then took place between ?>ir P&thenck and Mr Gray as to the rights of any man to attempt to break up a public meeting, and the meeting closed amidst confusion and disorder.