THE RED FLAG.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1602, 20 November 1912, Page 8

THE RED FLAG.

ROWDYISM AT'AUCKLAND. A FUTILE DEMONSTRATION., (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, November 19. A disgraceful sconp in. tho streets followed llio Prime Minister's reception .it tho Town Hall io-nipht, a largo mob having .to bo dispersed by the polico from the vicinity of the Grey .Statue. More than once during tho disturbance a riot looked imminent. HuudreiU of moil, women, and youths began to congregato at Queen Street and Grey Street entrances to tho Town Hail at 7 p.m., and by 7.30 p.m. there wore from 1500 to 201)0 in two crowds. It was evident that their object was to groot Mr. Massoy with a. hostile demonstration when ho arrived. In this thoy were, however, disappointed, tho H'rime Minister having reached the hall before the would-bo demonstrators had assembled. \ With the object of preventing any trouble, tile Commissioner of Policc (Mr. Cullen) had arranged for a force,of over 100 constables, several of whom woro mounted to bo on duty at tho Town Hall. Tho arrival of this large body of uniformeel officers of the law under Mr. Cullen himself, Inspector Mitchell, and SubInspector Hendry, was the signal for a derisive outburst from tho mob, but ho active demonstration was made. When prolonged cheering from ,insido tho hall announced the Mr. Massey had made his appcarancs on tho platform, the out-manoeuvred federationists in Grey Street gave. vent to their chagrin by boohing vigorously. . Whilst tlio meeting was in progress no attempt whatever was'made by the strikers or. their friends to interrupt the proceedings. Instead they quietly assembled, around the Grey Statue where they were addressed by several of the prominent-fed-erationists and strike lenders. Tho speeches were on similar lines to those which the: same orators have been imaking of late. Bitter feeling- was expressed because of tho strong -force of polico' rei quisitioned to keep order that night. | One : leading speaker declared that the [ federationists did not advocate or countenance acts of violence by their followers. "We hope," he said, "that everyone who is here to-night, everyone who sympathises with the Waihi striker's and the Federation of Labour will be at the opening of the Post Office to-morrow, but," he added, "we want you to refrain from any violence. Give Mr. Massey a hearing and we will have our say afterwards." (Loud cheers and cries of:,"We will.") A Rush. Somewhat to the. surprise of tho crowd around .the Grey Statue the gathering in the Town Hall ended at 9.43 p.m. Immediately there was a Tush towards the Town Hall. A squad of mounted police making for the Grey Statue entrance to the building indicated that the Prime Minister was expccted to come out at that side. Hot in the wake of the mounted men surged a crowd now numbering over 2000, the majority of whom were boohing with great, energy. With remarkable generalship tho Commissioner of Police had his forces marshalled in Grey Street. As tho crowd advanced from Queen Street tho police made a counter move against them and headed. them off some distance up from the entrance doors. ■ : As they went firmly forward the policc were accompanied by a sympathetic crowd, amongst'whom were many who had been sworn in as special constables. These chewed lustily Mr. Massey in their full-throated heartiness, drowning' the bcohs which came from tho angry mob of federationists. A sudden move by the mounted constable opened up a lane through the hostile ranks. Amidst further boohing antl jeering the oheckmated mob stood sullenly back on the footpaths and waited' for Mr:_ M-assey's motor-car to come past. Again they .were doomed to disappointment, the Prime Minister and Mrs. Massey, with their pafty, having ..stepped aboard, and been heartily cheered hy a largo crowd of loyal supporters, • were driven away up Grey Street. ', . -i A Counter Demonstration. As soon as the. Federationists realised that their prey had evaded, them,' thoy broke out into frenzied boohing 3, and for a while matters looked ugly. After waiC ing to give tho crowd a chanco to disperse, Commissioner Cullen ' recognised that it was not their intention to do anything of the sort. He thereupon formed up his men, mounted and afoot, and,' led by the former, the whole force marched steadily towards Queen Street and through the assembled mob. The police paid no attention .to the chorus of boohs and groans indulged in by the .federationists, and a strongs counter-demonstration was made by a largo proportion of the onlookers. The polico halted in the vicinity of Grey Statue, and the mob gathered round, at a loss to understand the move. For about . twenty .minutes the police stood where they were, whilst individuals taunted theni, and more orators harangued the mob. Presently a Federation loader mounted the base of the statue, and urged all supporters of the Federation to go home quietly, and not cause trouble. Most of the leaders then disappeared, but the crowd obstinately remained. At 10.25 the police were again put into motion in - order to disperse the crowd. The mounted men skirmished aroundthe statue in a circle, which they gradually widened until the crowd was back on to the footpath. Several minor disturbances now took place. A . booh would bo heard in one direction, whereupon a. body of police made a rush, and pressed tho offenders back. Rush after rush of this kind was carried out with such success that in ten minutes, and without a person being injured, the mob was diminished by-one-half. Of those who remained very many were antifoderationists, indeed had any eeriouK resistance been mado the police would have had plenty of willing assistance Shortly after 11 p.m. the mob tired of its futile behaviour, and after, having discussed matters in groups they 'recognised that -tho odds were against them, and that the police were determined. They dwindled® away gradually and made for their -homes. , ■ Rumours Repudiated. . A Press Association message received, earlier in the evening stated The Waihi Striko Committee emphatically repudi,at« the rumours in circulation to-day that attempts were to br> made to cause riots in connection with Mr. Massey's visit to Auckland. All tho Waihi man havo been specially warnod to keep aloof from these meetings, and a similar 'warning has been issued to federation members and sympathisers. 1