A ROWDY MEETING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 507, 14 May 1909, Page 4

A ROWDY MEETING.

Ora anticipation that a noisy section of the Socialist party would attempt to upset the public meeting called in support of the movement in favour of universal military;training was fully realised. 'A small but strong-lunged body of obstructionists attended at the Town Hall and dicli their best to prevent a reasonable discussion of the question by means familiar to their kind. To a certain extent thoy succeeded, but, unless we arc much mistaken, their ta-ctics will havo a result very different from that - which they expect. It must -bo, perfectly obvious that if all the canvassing, distribution of literature) and fervid appeals of these mob' orators oould only rally to their standard the small number which attended to obstruct the proceedings last evening, thc-objcctors to universal mili- , tar,v training aro fow indood, Of ooursa

many people who object, and who would make their protest in reasonable fashion, may have stayed away rather than' risk being associated with tho unmannerly crow who misbehaved . themselves so shamefully. But even when allowance ia made for this, the promoters of tho movement must feel gratified that those actively hostile were only able to muster tho very limited number present. Despite the disorder created by the few, the meeting should encourage those in favour of universal military training to press forward. It was, as wo anticipated, a case of numbers versus noiso. A few people may make a lot of noiso at a public meeting, but it is the numbers, and not the noise that counts at the ballot-box. ' .. ===== : :