HOW REDFEDSFIGHT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2007, 14 March 1914, Page 6

HOW REDFEDSFIGHT

UPROAR & DISORDER.

AT MR. FISHER'S -MEETING. A COUNTER DEMONSTRATION. WHICH IN THE END TRIUMPHED. General disorder, with intense excite-ment-and indescribable confusion all the while made it impossible for the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher to addiessHhe electors of Wellington Central in St. Peters Schoolroom last night. 'Long before eight o'clock the hall, which would ordinarily seat about 350 people, was crowded, but when the meeting opened thero must have been 600 peoplo in the building. It was the first public meeting to be addressed in Wellington by a member of tho Government, or, indeed, by any member of Parliament, sinco the strike, and it was generally taken for granted that the meeting would be lively. ' Tho Fedorationists or Social Democrats got there early, and they were very sure that they had such a majority that they could control tho meeting. They succeeded in disturbing the meeting, but before it was over tho other peoplo present, who must have in the end outnumbered them by two to one, gave .them a little of their own sauce. How tho Challenge Came About. Mr. Fisher's appearance in the body of the hall on his way to the platform was the- signal for an outburst of cheering and hooting, i The cheering was loudest, but tho hooting was tho longest sustained. Mr. Fisher's supporters had not yet become enthusiastic. When ho tried to speak, the hooting and shouts and cries like sheepHleating, with a sound accompaniment of cheers all the while, prevented his going ou. All this Mr. Fisher mot with an imperturbable smile. Som.e very deepthroated Red _ Feds had been making a noise persistently, and Mr. Fisher, said: "I am quite prepared to let these gentlemen who are making a demonstration put up. any body they like on the platform against mo." Tho challenge was accepted and Mr. Holland was nominated. After a short conference with Mr. Fisher, Mr. Holland came forward and announced that it had been agreed between himself and Mr. fisher that Mr., Fisher should speak for an hour, and that then he was to speak. He-'asked tho SocialDemocrats to give Mr. Fisher a hearing. Mr. Fisher did not get a hearing. Ho stood up and faced a deafening uproar for nearly an hour. What lie did say was in defiance of tho noisy demonstrators, but he could not possibly have shouted down from 100 to 200 men, and he mado way for Mr. Holland. "Sauce for tho Coose." Then Mr. Fisher's friends had their innings. Mr. Holland was greeted with groans, and continued stamping of feet, with cries, often repeated of: "We want Fisher." Mr. Holland did not utter one syllable of liis speech to the crowd. They would have none of him. The Federationists were furiously angry but amid the, indescribable uproar and confusion they were probably discerning enough to see that they could not do just as they liked.witli the'meeting.There were somo six policemen present, and while Mr. Fisher was' speaking three or four men were ejected for misconduct. While Mr. Holland stood silent on the platform for upwards of half an hour thero were occasional outbursts of cheering for Mr: Fisher. These becamo more and more lusty and more frequent. Presently there was a better organised cheer than usual, and then, at 9.45 p.m., the lights in the centre of tho hall wevo switched off leaving the wall lights only. The hall was not left in darkness, but the crowd accepted this as the signal tp break up the meeting. No resolution of any kind was put. Mr. -Holland stood on the platform waiting to speak; but as his presence there was causing disorder a sergeaut of police spoke- to him and he left, though noj, without some protests. The Hat In the Ring. But to return to the beginning cf the proceedings: •_ Mr. Fisher was greeted with cheering, and other noises, when ho stood forward alone on the platform, unsupported by a chairman. Presently, iu a lull, he said: "ladies and gentlemen." Immediately there was more determined hooting and shouting and general uproar. Three times ho said "Ladies and gentlemen" at intervals of perhaps two minutes, and • then he managed to say: "I have come along to-night for the purpose of throwing my hat into tho ring for Wellington Central." More shouting, to which Mr. Fisher, smiling, replied: "I am not in a hurry." Presently the row subsided. _ "I have come along to-night," he said,- "to address tho electors in my own constituency, and to announce tho fact-—" Noise prevented him from saying any more. Again he tried: we mako a start. .1 have come here to-night " Hubbub drowned his voice.

A voice: Why don't you adjourn ? Mr. Fisher: I am not going to adjourn. lam not built that way. " This was all he could say for somo minutes, during which tho whole audienco rose.and craned their necks to seo a man ejected by'two burly police-

A man called: What about the Seamen's Act?

Mr. Fisher: I will tell you about it. (Hooting.) If you want to know about tho Shipping and Seamen's Act, keep quiet and I will tell you. (More noise.) "If you aro ready, wo can go on. (Shouts from a section of Red Feds.) I am quito prepared to let tlieso gentleinont who are making a demonstration put up anybody they liko on tho platform. . '

A man in the audience: I announce Mr. Holland to go against you, Mr. Fisher.

Anotber Federationist: A majority of this audience accepts your challenge to Harry Holland to go on the platform with- you.

Mr. Holland wont on the platform, and he , was received with well-organised cheering by tlio Social Democrats and a few groans and shouted protests hy tlio others. Mr. Fisher's friends had up till now kept very quiet, hoping that ho might be able to speak. Then Mr. Holland, j after . speaking with Mr. Fisher, made the announcement' above referred to. . A Dangerous Glass. Mr. Fisher was cheered when ho canto forward again to speak his allotted hour. "I am very glad that this episode has occurred," ho said. ".I have come down hero because this hall is in my elcctorato, and because it has been from one end of Now Zealand to the other by my opponents that I was not prepared to speak in my own electorate. The meeting has been valuable in that it has shown that there is growing a party in this country which is determined to hoar, no sido at all. (Uproar and applause.) I repeat that n, party has arisen in this country which is determined that it will hear no sido at all unless it gets some special concession given to it. (Noise and shouting.)

A man in the crowd was noisy and offensive, t although his wordi were drowned in the .general din, and Mr.

Fisher told him: "If you make any more noisa you will be put out. Wβ have discovered a method of dealing with people liko you." Tho man subsided, and Mr. Fisher continued: "Wo have found out that there is growing a class in this community wjueh will not- liM;en to reason. (Cheers and hoots.) You will iind as time goes on that it- will be a danger- to this cowltry to allow this class over to control its destinies— (moro uproar). . . ." To tho accompaniment of almost continuous hostile- noise, Mr. Fisher set out to refer to Ms record as an administrator, but he could no more tlian refer to the increased pension benefits granted ntjder legislation introduced by him. After ' perhaps two minutes of comparative cairn a man called ,"ls half an hour up yetP" ifr. Ifislier replied, "You may tell me my half hour is up, but 1 tell you. that if I don't" get in Mr. Holland won't get in." And after moro noise, "It wilt bo a great country when you follows control it. . . . It is quits evident that you don't want me to go on I am told hero by a prominent member of my opponents that I have got Bo hearing and no chance. I should thtafc lio is a great sport. With the introduction into tins country of {what you call Socialistic methods, I should eaj* the country is going to the dags. (Uproar.} Lot us suppose your party ever attains power —it has a long way to go before it gats there—is it going to be said that your public meetings will have to be held as they are sometimes hold in Australia; behind closed deors? ..." strike. . "I can assure you, ladies and gentlemen, that if yott wast mo to deal with any phase of politics, or if you want me to deal' with any aspect of tho strike, I am after it: 1 am tju-ito prepared to deal wit'n it in all its details.. (Diversion while a policeman interviewed somo noisy men.) if like to keep quiet and listen they can stay, IT they have come here to interrupt mo they will have to go." . A man said something -about th« time going on. Mr.'Fisher: I will tell you what you have done so fat". You have taken E5 minutes off Mr. Holland's time, (More noise.) Suppose we, say something about tho strike. You wiw# to know about tho attitude of the GoveriMUe-nfc with regard to the strike. (Lond cries of "Yes" and "No."). A voice: What about you? Mr. Fisher: I supported the Government. (This caused more noise, and: one of the men warned previously was ejected 'by two policemen). ... I asi not- going to have a public .weeting broken up by anybody. I want to know if there is -anybody, here that has not come to listen. | Voices: Yes. Mr. Fisher: Then go out. A voice: You are going out, Mr. Fisher: I h-aro been tj>M that I am going out so often that I am tired of hearing .it. I hav& always got in. so far. ... I was proceeding to disease the action of tho tlofernment with regard to the strike when we had that interruption, and I say here, and 1 make the statement .without hesitation' —(Hero there was an interlude , for about three minutes' while two ivojjicii in the front seats had an- argument, and a most heated one)—l wiirt to say here without hesitation that I am prepared to uphold every action that was taken by the Government'from begtlifiing' to end of the strike— (GiieeTS and booing)— and since we aro to.have a dissertation from Mr. Holland: on tlio subject Mr. E, J. Caroy: We don't want Holland. A Fcderatioiiisfc urged that Mr. Carey ought to be put out, aa he was causing all tho trouble. Mr. Fisher: You , Jeltow he i 3 not. Tho trouble that is going oil at this mertifrg was caused before the- meeting, (Hear, hear.) This meeting thirt we have in front of us now has .been teadfcd Up and packed by the Red Federation class. ... I have been fold that the action of the Government was improper in bringing into town special constables. I say this: You start playing . those games again, and we'll bring them'in again to-morrow,, and. I say that, with the experience we have, tad in the p'aat. we'll let them go,a' little sooner than we did last time; -. If you think that any part of the community-,-.(interrup-tion— another man ejected), 1 say that so long as I am.in the Goyenimsnt no part of the community will evet )js allowed to paralyse the whole community. (Applause.) And no man in his sense can argue with any logic that a. man who is on strike has a fight to break laws because he lie on strike." Amid a noisy demonstration an ex* striker was put ont by the. police. There was hooting and Mr, comment thereon was: "I am pleased to see } T our profound respect for. law and; order. , ' Government Had rio Part in It. Tho strike, ho continued,. had ncjt been just. . Even tk president of the men's union had wanted the men not to strike, and had never believed in the strike.' The. Government had. nothing to do with the origin of it. In actual fact the strike was started and Weil on its way before the Giovernm&nt lifted its little, linger, 'fire matter had nevof como under the jurisdiction :pf. the Government until the law-breakiiig. com* menced. Ho was charged with breaking the law himself hy. suspefld-jng the Shipiping and Seamen Aet, but. lie- said that the Act had been legally suspended because the seamen refused to work.,

A voice: You never worked in ycuf life.

Mr. Fisher: If I started oft you, you would know something about it. . Mr. Fisher was Counted out, anil on the word "out," ho said, "And about this time in November; .you will say I am in.! , (Applause.) Yon. must not forget that when j-ou jj© into an election there are stp a ftreat many re* spoctable people wiio don't- make a noise at meetings. That is a. foiob you will have to recognise at election time and upon which 1 rely, . . « A voice: You will go out. Mr. Fuller: Yes, 1 am going outj but I_ will como in a- winner. (Applau-so.) You people tha 9 como hera and interrupt this meeting don't represent a, liundredth part of -the jwpul.ati&n. (Applause and noiso.) I am certain 1 am right when I say. that when wo come along to the end of the year you will find without any doubt t-ha.t the- action of the- Government during the striko is going to' put them back into power with a larger majority. "I came hero with the best intention of making you a really gooel speof/h. It is quite evident that in order to have a. really good mooting I must take the big Town Hall and let the citizens of Wellington seo how you coji.duet yourselves. I don't griovo a bit over tins meeting, because I aw quite certain that I i'eel stronger tlwn I did when I came in. From ono efid of Now Zo-a-land to the other reports will Ijo telegraphed, shoxing how the. Soeia-1. Democrats run publki meetings.". Mr. Fisher was reminded that time- wa\s Up, and he offered thft sttggestiom that as he had not had a bearing Halland should 1 speak for half an liour, and he should follow. This did iwjt meet with general approval. What Happened to Mr. Holland. After a few more minutes Mr. Holland had his turn, Ho had a resolution ready typed, which he evidently d.esired to move, but ho was not allowed to speak. Ho stood for 35 minutes,, listening to groans, Iwflts, hantfckpphij*, stamping of feet, cheers, and fonder cheers for Mr. Fislicr. Tl» mc«tiiips became very disorderly. JVkrniimtists moved about a good doftl.. consalted and shouted a good deal, i,nit eiidad by being very sadly chagrined. They had evidently not though* of being mii dowu. fiiiiJly, Mr. Fisher was loueiiy.

cli-ecred, and while lio received good wishes fthd handshakes from scores of Jits supporters, ;\ policcinan was inter-. liewifig Mr. Holland about getting off tlic platform. THE GAUNTLET DOWN* PLAIN STATEMENT BY MR, ' FISHER. ; Interviewed after tiro meeting, the Hon. F. M. 8.. Fisher said that ho was quite satisfied with the result, Hβ had been warned .that there was to b'o a thoroughly well-packed and organised demonstration, and that the SoctalDemoerais, if possible, were to take oh.irgo of. tho meeting. As seoii as members of tlw Social Democratic Party denied him the right of freespeech) ho had deemed it advisable,! as an appeal to tho sijjise of fair piny of tko hostile clement present, to invite eno of thwr speakers up to tho platform to state their case. In answer to that Mr. H, Holland took tho platform. I Immediately lie (Mr, Fisher) re* sumea his .speech, every possi-bie- attempt was mads to prevent his being hoard. He was very glad that this exhibition of Social Democratic; methods staild have taken place in a Wellington hall. Hβ had met it before in Lyt» telton, , and in last night's perferm-ajj-co the Wellington public were givcii tko index to the character of the party that sought-to control the- destinies of this cotiiitry. When Mr. Holland camo on to ,tk> platform, added Mr.. Fisher, bo-showed mo. a copy of a resolution ho intended to mov*, protesting .aeaiust "tho fear* ba-roVis methods.tit tho. Government daring the• lato strike," and stated that lio was in a position to inform me that it would be dar'riod, $ rorrs which it was;easy to', deduce, that' ho :had some iuowledixo of the packing-of the meeting. In-the.few brief intervals in, which; he , (Mr.-Fisher) had. been abtoito speak, he.had conveyed do- tko audience,his. attitude .towards thd SottaS Party, so.;.now. there -cottl*fl>a wr misunderstanding between thorii.: ..■..'. • •■ ■. . ...... "I have thrown down the gauntlet for Wellington Central for 1914," said Jf.r.' Fislfor in. ■conelasion, ."and will have my back against- the wall from Tim- until the numbers are up. A pleasing feature of the meeting was that the intelligent section of tho audience was anxious for me tft speak, and when they observed the tactics pursued by the Socialists they .served out to Mr. Holland a little <>i his owti since, snd Jle arid his party were hoisted with' 'their-Own petard. I shall at a later date address anather meeting vi the citizens of Wellington i« tfw Town Hall, when, a still larger proportion of the intelligent portion .of tho community will be afforded an opportunity of witnessing the unintelligent methods oi the Social Democratic Party. Their: Attitude only shows the necessity, of a ■ strong Administration to be at tho Ittfta ®F affairs," ■ '. ' . i