VERBAL FIREWORKS.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18164, 31 October 1930, Page 9

VERBAL FIREWORKS.

UNEMPLOYED AND MAYOR. SPOKESMAN ORDERED TO LEAVE. Ordered from the Christchurch City Council Chambers after making threats to the Mayor (the Rev. J. K. Archer), Mr R- Marshall, one of the spokesmen for an unemployed deputation, did not leave immediately. The Mayor summoned the Town Clerk to see that he left. Mr Marshall, who provokingly urged the Mayor to send for the Inspector of Police, left after a few tense moments, lie was followed by Mr S. Fournier, the other spokesman. Previously the Mayor had asked all those who agreed with Mr Marshall’s threats to leave the room. Only the two spokesmen retired, leaving thirteen or fourteen men to be addressed by the Mayor and Councillors J. W. Reanland and E. 11. Andrews, who outlined what the City Council had done for the releif of unemployment. In the Nature of a Threat. “ This deputation Is something in the nature of a threat,” declared Mr Marshall, who is a young man. “ The position is no better in Christchurch than anywhere else, and we are in no mood to accept these things quietly. Relief depots are closing down and we are now determined to organise our forces in a more drastic manner. “ We have a Labour Mayor here in Christchurch,” continued Mr Marshall, “ but things are no better than in

Wellington where there Is a Tory mayor. We all know what the Labour Party is; it is a third capitalistic party. Something will have to be done in the near future or something will happen. As far as I am concerned this deputation is a threat. In Wellington a deputation waited on the Mayor, and the latter ran through the Town Hall with the unemployed after him. We are peaceful now, but we may not be in a few weeks’ time.” Immediately Mr Marshall had finished his address, the Mayor asked that all those who agreed with the spokesman should leave the room. Mr Marshall and Mr Fournier, together with two or three others, then made to go. “ Get Out Of This.” “Now you just get away out of this,” ordered the Mayor, when Mr Marshall asked the men what they thought of the turn proceedings had taken. Mr Marshall: The Labour Mayor will call the police just the same as any other man. Call in the inspector of police! (To the men): Boys, that’s the position. What do you think of it? The Mayor called to the town clerk (Mr J. S. Neville) to escort the men away. . Mr R. J. Ecroyd, a member of the finance committee of the Citizens’ Unemployment Committee, declared that the Mayor was going a little too far. “Now you keep quiet; I'm in charge here,” stated the Mayor to Mr Loroyd. When Messrs Marshall and Fournier had left, the Mayor said that he was not there to deal with threats, nor to listen to them. The City Council was a civic administration. When threats

s, were made the matter passed out of his hands into others. It was contrary to the spirit of a Brjtisher to do anything because there was a pistol at his head. If the employed were foolish enough to accept, the leadership of the men who had left, the matter passed out of the hands of the council, . '