The Star. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1919. LAST NIGHT'S MEETING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19815, 5 December 1919, Page 6

The Star. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1919. LAST NIGHT'S MEETING.

Whatever the political opinions one may hold ono cannot but regrot tho occurrences at the Colosseum last evening. Tho Prime Minister had been invited by the Mayor to address a public meeting in this city, and had accepted the invitation. The Mayor had given his assurance that the discreditable scenes enacted on the occasion of Mr Massey’s previous visit would not be repeated, and no one will doubt that his Worship gave that assurance with tho lull determination that it would be redeemed. Mo man, howevei, can calm a mob which throws reason and lair play to the winds. Thousands of citizens went to tho Colosseum last evening witli the expectation of hearing the Prime Minister. It is not stretching the probabilities to say that the vast majority of the people inside the building were politically opposed to Mr Massey, but Liberalism is not opposed to freedom of speech for its opponents. The audience would have heard Mr Massey to the end, and probably have fully appreciated his visit to a centre which is traditionally hostile to his party, but for tho tactics of tho “ Interruption Party.” People with any experience of public meetings know that gatherings can be broken up by a few interrupters, whose qualifications arc leathern lungs am! a plentiful lack of brains. When the door was burst open last evening all hope of an orderly meeting vanished, and there was nothing co do but abandon tho fixture. For the bursting of the door bad management was entirely responsible. It find been announced that ladies and their escorts would bo admitted at tho Armagh Street entrance, and that the Gloucester Street door would be opened to the general public. The Gloucester Street door was never opened until the indignant crowd smashed it open. We can quite understand the anger which the crowd felt when it was realised that there was no intention of opening the door. They felt that they had been tho victims of a dishonest trick. For this part of the disturbance, however much the crowd s indiscretion may be deplored, even the “ Interruption Party ” cannot be held responsible. For what took place inside.the hall it is impossible to believe in their innocence. It was conclusively shown that even if the door had not been smashed in the Prime Minister would not have been allowed to proceed. While the public will regret that tho Prime Minister was so grossly insulted, and no doubt feci an honest disgust that for the third time Mr Massey has been refused a bearing in this city, it will be only in very partisan quarters that the biame will be laid on the (shoulders of the Liberal supporters. It is evident to the intelligent observer that there lias come into existence a certain element which makes a specialty of interrupting meetings. 1 hese political hooligans aie not Liberals—the record of the campaign now on conclusively proves that. They are harrying tho Liberal candidates in the city, and would do the same to the Reformers if there were any Reformers in sight. They are the people who cheer loudest aud longest at the meetings of Labour candidates, and in Christchurch and elsewheie they have identified themselves with the extremists of that party. Last night’s meeting will not do the extremists any good’. Reasonable people —and they are in the great majorityhave a healthy regard for freedom of speech, and they are apt to look askance at a party which, while professing the utmost toleration, is the source of such displays of intolerance us was witnessed Inst evening,