LAW AND ORDER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1701, 18 March 1913, Page 4

LAW AND ORDER.

TROUBLE AT CHRISTCHURCBV "VERY SERIOUS." STATEMENT BY THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT. (By Telejrrapb.—Pretß Association.! Chrlstchurch, March 17. On Saturday night tho anti-militarists held a meeting at Clock Tower to tho hindrance of traffic, and in spito of a warning given by recent prosecutions and convictions. In consequence largely of tho character of tho addresses given, a disturbance followed, and the police were compelled to draw their batons in selfdefence. There had been a number of speeches of tho usual character condemnatory of the Government, the social system, the defence 6cheme, tho press, and particularly tho police and polico methods. When ono youth was speaking, Sergeant Stewart wout forward to tako his name, and was forthwith set upon and hustled. He got clear of them, but tho inflammatory speech was continued, Presently, assisted by constables, ho went to the aid of some women, who were screaming in tho crowd. Some in the crowd then made another, attack, and to save themselves from injury the officers were compelled to draw their batons, and literally fight their way clear of tho young men who were scrceching about them. A number of names were taken both before and after the fracas, and prosecutions will follow. Superintendent Kiely told a reporter to-day that the position was becoming a grave one. Since these meetings had been held at the Clock Towor it had l>cen necessary to have a sergeant and constables there each Saturday . night. Thero wero usually two or three constables in uniform on duty there, and, ho believed that a number of plain clothes' men went there in their own time fearing an attack upon their brothers in uniform, The speakers themselves did not uso actual violence to the police, but subjected them to much verbal abuse, and used their best efforts to incite their hearers to attack tlrem. He could not tell what their exact object was, but tho passive registers'' seemed bent upon precipitating a riot, and on Saturday night Inst very nearly succeeded, as many of tho lads present lost their heads and becamo dangerous persons, Lent on making a rather purposeless attack on the officers. "Tho position is a very serious .one," ho continued, "and in winter it is likely to bo worse, If things are allowed to continue as (hey are, I shall be surprised if these gatherings do 1 not terminate in bloodshed." The police report makes no mention of the use of batons, eo it is to be presumed that if- drawn they were drawn only for the purposes of display, and to show tho mob that tho men were in earnest, and not entirely defenceless during attacks on the polico by spectators.At a meeting under the 'auspices of United Labour on Sunday niglit, some of those in the audience referred to Saturday night's disturbance, calling out that the police had used their batons on them. Tho polico report states that on Saturday night Councillors M'Cullough and Burgoyne addressed a meeting at. the Clock Toweij fpj ofjfliscussing military training. Tho meeting "was quiet and orderly, and at its conclusion there wero present,between 300 and 400 - people, all well-behaved. Then a man mounted the steps and began an unfounded attack on tho police and the keeping of law and order.. Ho so incited the crowd that it began to hoot and bustle the constables. Two ladies in the crowd seemed in some danger, so Sergeant Stewart and three uniform and threo plain clothes men. went to their assistance. They were much bustled and pushed, but managed to get clear uninjured. Prosecutions will follow, possibly including applications for sureties of the ptace. The police wish it made cleat that tho trouble arose solely out of th« second meeting.