SOLDIERS WANT CASH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19800, 18 November 1919, Page 2

SOLDIERS WANT CASH.

DIGGERS SEEK HUGHES.

TOWN HALL RUSHED,

(Correspondent Melbourne “ Herald-”^ T . SYDNEY, Friday. Last night's outburst from returned soldmrs m Martin Place was a serious y two grievances. They »PPojy ,Sdr™LOT.“ i ‘ tor ’ *"» Corfu k i f om * ,orr V. Lieutenant; ntUen.’ mf nry - ot ll’o Soldiers and Citizens Fedemtioa, said:--Mr Hughes has arranged for the Repatriation Department and the banks to take war gratuity bonds ns security. wte i5 ,J <Wt 110 I “ re * Lieutenant Cortis: Ho fans given mb a statement. A Voice: All a lot rot and red ta, P e * What wa tf&nt is cflah. A soldier named Killeen then spoke Horn the lorry, reiterating that the adorers wanted a cash gratuity. " WE WANT BILLY HUGHES.” Huglies°' Ce! W< * Want * S Killeen: There seems to be a misunderstanding. We told him wo expectod him here to-night, hut he said lie had an engagement. A Voice: He’s «, squib. KBlecn; He gave us this message—soldiers, T had hoped to address youthis evening, but prossnro of public engagements has made this impos-. «ble. Bonds will be distributed on the assembly of Parliament. They will bo taken by the banka.” ,„ A Voice: What’s the good of that? (Hoots and uproar.) Killeen (siill rending): “The Government. being desirous of paying cash, but finding that financial conditions will not permitA Voice; Wo’vo taken a tumble to Billy Hughes. Killeen: I say that the Government advisers have wrongly interpreted our wishes. They don’t love the Diggers. They draw fat screws and rents. What do they care? "CASH!” CASH! CASH!” Voices: We want cash! cash! cash! Killeen: Why did the Returned Bailors and Soldiers’ League say wo would take bonds? Look at the Wav Bonds—selling for less than their value. Do you want to see that happen to returned soldiers’ bonds? Money-lenders and hanks get the advantage of your services. A Voice: Wo will declare warAnother Voice: The Town Hall. Wo want Billy Hughes. Other voices: Damn Hughes; we want cosh. There wore cries of casii! cash! cash! and in answer to a question as to what they were going to do one digger shouted: -‘Take Billy, Hughes’s last shilling. There was some wrangling between the crowd and those on the platform, during which a returned soldier climbed into the lorry and wrestled with Lieutenant Cortis. Finally ho was allowed to speak. “ What about the Town Hall?” he said. Then ho was pushed head first off the lorry into the crowd. Air Peter Bowling then, took a’ hand and commenced to speak. APOLOGY DEMANDED. . The returned soldier who had previously been thrown from the lorry climbed up and grappled with Mr Bowlling, but ho was again thrown from tho lorry. Air Bowling said it wa,s an insult to offer anything but cash. He urged them to dra.w up a petition. After passing a motion protesting against the views expressed by Aiderman Baker, of Wnratah, and demanding a. public .apology from him, tho crou d moVed to the Town Hall.' There were cries, of “ Cash ” end “Bring Billy Hughes out.” The crowd hurst' through the gate and then the police charged, and amid the fighting and shouting the crowd was pushed hack. Someone shouted that Mr Hughes had slipped out by the sideway. The police formed a line (from tho, Town Hall steps to a motor-car, and. « figure appeared at the head of the steps. There were cries of “ T(icro he is,” and hoots. The figure withdrew. ■ Later the figure again appeared at the top of tho stops, nnd thore worn cries of “Good old Billy. Como nnd speak.” The figure went flown the opposite side of the steps, and got into a motorcar in St Andrew’s place. The crowd surged toward tho place, but was repelled. “After the littb squib!” said someone. The crowd commenced to form at the corner of St Andrew’s Place and George Street, and there wore cries of “ Where is ho?” HOTEL RUSHED. A policeman told them that he was home in bed. “ Come on. boys,” cried one of the men, “ we’ll get him yet. We‘ll pull him out of bed. Ho. lives at the Grosvenor.” Singing aud cheering, the crowd started off for tho Grosvenor. Outside the hotel the crowd clamoured. “In there, liughtic? Come aml talk to us.” Lieutenant Chateau, son of the proprietor, appeared at the doorway and said. “ What do yon want?" The crowd answered: Billy Hughes. If you don’t bring him out we will pull your place down stone by stone. Lieutenant Chateau: I am a. Digger. If vou touch tho hotel you will only be Inarming one of your own crowd. “ If you'ro a Digger, then chuck him out,” cried a voice. A man appeared on tho balcony ami attempted to make an oration, but it was not. Air Hughes. DOOR BROKEN DOWN. The front door was shut, ami after arguing among themselves the crowd stormed the door, ami it went in with a crash. A few men pushed into tho hall, and there wore cries of “Bring l , him out. Diggers!” The police marched up. and the crowd gave way. They were urged bv a- police inspector to go home, and the majority were driven down Grosvenor .Street shouting “Billy Hughes, we will get yon yet.” They turned and stoned the police, who then made a baton charge, and the incident ended with the crowd scuttling.