MR MILLER AT WOOLSTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14836, 29 November 1913, Page 12

MR MILLER AT WOOLSTON.

FREE SPEECH v. RED FEDS.

Mr M. J. Miller, the Reform Party's candidate for the Lyttelton seat, was to have addressed a meeting at Woolston last night. When he arrived oil the platform, it became obvious that a hostile element had taken the precaution of packing the hall, and determined not to allow the candidate to speak. Mr F. J. Graham, Mayor of Woolston, presided. The meeting was a prolonged disturbance from beginning to end, oven the Chairman's opening remarks being at times drowned in the din. Mr Miller himself did.his best to deliver his speech, but was prevented from saying more than a few words at a time, and at the end, when questions were asked him, he,was prevented from replying. Mr McGregor Wright, a former Mayor of the borough, was fairly howled off the platform when he made an appeal for order, and Mr D. G. Sullivan, who also strove to pacify the mob, met with no better success. Mr Miller took his extraordinary reception with perfect coolness and good humour. The meeting closed with a hostile vote, and with renewed demonstrations of hostility to Mr Massey, the Defence Act, and the special constables.