STORMY SCENE IN CUBA STREET.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1199, 7 August 1911, Page 4

STORMY SCENE IN CUBA STREET.

ANTI-MILITARY MEETING. Something like an hour's excitemcnt was caused at the corner of Dixon and Cuba Streets last evening, when a band of patriots heckled some open-air autimilitary agitators to such effect that the gathering eventually broke up in disorder. After holding forth on tho price of butter for some time, one of the speakers turned his attention to the military training scheme, and condemned the system in unmeasured language as often as tho obstructionists in the fast-gathering crowd allowed htm to be heard. Amidst cat-ealls, and general disorder the speaker made .sundry strong remarks, and one ''enthusiast" was heard to hiss something about. General God-ley. The reply of the "patriots" to these and similar remarks was a lusty rendering of the National Anthem, and a call for cheers which were given with fervour. In the midst of the turmoil a. policeman made as if to interfere, but Ihe holders of tho platform iwrc understood to produce a permit for the evening, and tho "meeting" resumed. Questions and interjections wero hurled from all iidts, but at length tho proceedings were brought to an abrupt close. A movement from the rear of the crowd set thoso in front, advancing, and platform on which the "anti-conscriptionists" were standing collapsed under tho strain, amidst loud cheering. The crowd then sang "God Save tho King" lustily, and a number of "patriots" sang (to the tunc of "John Brown's Body"), "We're the Tcrri-terri-torials, and we'll go marching on." Amidst, the confusion tho speakers retired to a hall in Manners Street followed by a crowd of several hundred people, singing "Rulo Britannia," and "God Save the King."