DREADNOUGHTS AND RIOT

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 482, 15 April 1909, Page 5

DREADNOUGHTS AND RIOT

STORMY SCENES AT CHRISTOHURGH. UNION JACK TORN TO PIECES. NAVY LEAGUE MEETING BROKEN UP. (BY TELEGRAM:—rRESS ASSOCIATION.) Ghristcliurch, April 14. A meeting was lield in King Edward Barracks to-night, under the auspices of the Navy 'League, to consider a motion endorsing tho action of Cabinet, re presenting a Dreadnought, and approving of the offer made to the British Government. There were quite 4GUO people present, and the meeting, from the start, was most disorderly, and broke up in confusion. None of tho speakers were given a hearing, and Bishops Julius and Grimes, on rising to speak, recti* ed groans and cheers mixed, which continued, and prevented them from being heard. Nobody in tho crowd had tho least idea what was' going on, this being duo to tho uproar made by a noisy section standing just in front of the platform, and a call lor a show of haiids in favour of tho resolution had to be done by means of a notification 011 a blackboard. The motion was declared carried amid a scene of indescribable confusion, and then followed perfect pandemonium. Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.l\, in whom tho disturbing faction recognised a leader, endeavoured to speak, but could not be heard owing to the din, and his violent gesticulations wero not understood. A Union Jack at one corner of the platform was pulled down, and, before it could be rescued, was torn to shreds and trampled underfoot. Eventually, after a great struggle, in which hundreds of men joined, tho remains of tho (lag were rescued, towed on to the platform, and hoisted aloft by Jjieutenant-Coloncl Smith, amid frenzied cheers. Another great fight took place over the possession of tho blackboard used for putting the motion. It was first of all snatched away from tho table 011 the platform by Mr. Taylor's adherents, _ and an attempt was made to carry it to where Mr. Taylor was standing, presumably with the object of putting a hostile amendment in the same wav, but the patriotic crowd got to work, and the blackboard was towed about like a raft on a sea of heads, until it was carried to one end of the. barracks., Even when it was announced that the proceedings closed, thousands remained cheering and hooting,'and'it was not until the lights had been" extinguished that tho barracks could bo cleared. A noisy openair meeting was then hold in Cathedral Square. Tho bishops and other prominent citizens, who wero present at the meeting, speak in terms of the greatest disgust of the .conduct of a certain section of tho crowd at the meeting. ANOTHER NOTE OF CONDEMNATION. (nV TELEGUAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Invorcarelll, April 14. At a meeting at Waikiwi, convened by Mr. W. A. Morris, who opposed Sir Joseph Ward for the Awarua Electorate, it was resolved: " That, in tho opinion of this meeting of Awarua electors,' the action of tho Ward Government in making an unconditional and absolute offer of a battleshin to tho British Government without tho authority of Parliament, merits sovero 'censure and tho forfeiture of tho people's confidence in tlio Ward Government." Tho spoakon; affirmed the need of . maintaining naval supremacy, but condemned the 'unconstitutional method of making tho offer.