MR A. J. COOK COLLAPSES IN STATE OF HYSTERIA

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18615, 17 November 1928, Page 11

MR A. J. COOK COLLAPSES IN STATE OF HYSTERIA

AFTER AMAZING SPEECH AT TRADES CONGRESS.

(Special to the 44 Star.") LONDON, September 7. The Trades Union Congress by a majority of five to one to-day decided to continue negotiations for industrial peace with the group of employers led by’ Lord Melchett. As the result of his intervention in ‘he debate in a manner which amazed he delegates, Mr A. J. Cook, the miners’ secretary’, is to-night lying ill in Swansea, and his condition demands constant medical attention. His extremely nervous state was revealed when, as he took his place at the speaker’s stand, he dropped his papers to the floor and found difficulty in gathering them together again. Words came from him in a ceaseless and ever-quickening torrent for thirty minutes, and scarcely any portion of what he said had relevance to the matter before the congress. As he went on faster and faster he stamped his feet and thumped the reading desk so violently that every few seconds he caused an electric bell controlled from the president’s table to ring out as if it had become bewitched. When he went back to his place in the area of the hall, Mr Cook seemed to realise for the first time that he w'as a sick man. He rushed to a side door, but after two steps outside he crumpled up as if he had been shot. Later a police inspector tried to assist him towards the corridor, but he struggled violently and struck out with his fists in a state of extreme hysteria, moaning, sobbing, and with his face covered by his hands. He was taken to a house in Swansea.