MOB VIOLENCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2327, 8 December 1914, Page 6

MOB VIOLENCE

DISGRACEFUL SCENES IN AUCKLAND • YOUNG WOMAN TRAMPLED ON POLITICAL MEETING AND AFTER (By Telegraph.—Prose Aesoclatlou.) Auokland, December 7. There were some extraordinary happenings in connection with Mr. Massey's meeting ot Poneonby this evening. Mr. Mnssey left the Grand Hotel in a car belonging to the hotel) and proceeded to Ponsonby via College Hill: When the car rounded the corner and neared the theatre a howling mob was encountered stretching right across the street. The engine had stopped, and the car had almost come to a standstill when one of the tyres was elit apparently by a very sharp knife. The tube in the tyre was also cut, and both were ruined beyond repair. The hood of the car was damaged, and two of. the'ribs were broken. Someone seized the mudguardj but did no damage to it.While the meeting was proceeding the driver got the car repaired, and secured the services of two policemen to prevent further injuries. The meeting proceeded fairly placidly for about an hour and a 'half. Just before 9.30 p m.' a gentleman walked on the platform and tad a hurried consultation with Mr Massey, who turned to the audience and expressed his regrets that air would nave to leave the Jiall in about tea min- ! utes. . • ■ ■ ■ Premier Checks a Panlo. Before the speaker could complete hie sentence a number of women rushed madly fo the exit, and there were indications of a panic, the audience by the tune observing that the room had °Tj yery smoky.' Mr. Massey pacified the crowd by explaining that e . loss of-the lights was the. worst that could happen, and that there was not the slightest cause for alarm'. Thereupon a- motion of confidence in him as Pnme Mmister was put and carried, ana tne audience commenced to disperse, which they did hurriedly, owing to the increasing sinokiness. A "Herald" reporter went to the en-eine-room with the engineer. It was impossible to breathe in that room, and* a hasty retreat was imperative by reason of the smoke.' . The lubricator connected .with the crank of the engine nad been taken away, and the requisite oil had not been supplied to the works. . This led to squeaking, and then came the smoke. Mr. H. Imith, fireman, had also detected the smoke, and he made an examination. ' It was agreed that the trouble could not have occurred accidentally, the opinion being that someone had deliberately taken the lubricator away. Mr. North discovered an old one, and'placed it in position eventually. Scene Outside the Hall. \ Outside the hall. there was a scene of wild excitement. Several thousand I people, obviously of the Federationist element, crowded round.the building, and the police (there were twenty-two of them under Sergeant Rutledge) had all their work set in keeping them in order. The mounted police had to be called upon to clear a passage for Mr. Massey's car, and, .when he appeared." howls of execration/ were hurled at him, coupled with intense booing. The Prime Minister was not perturbed in the slightest degree, and took off his hat and smiled cheerily at his opponents. . The mounteds again cleared a way for his exit. Being in an angry mood, the crowd looked round for new victims.. Mr., J. G. Bradney, Government candidate for the Auckland.West seat, in whose electorate the Prime' Minister had epoken, seomed to be chosen by mutual consent to .fill the bill, and, the crowd made a rush for him. Somebody threw a'stone. The police.effected a capture, hut the man was eventually released, as there 'j was doubt as to the identity of the offender. A Threatening Mob. , •■ ••■■'■ Mr. Bradney came out : of the hall with his wife and his elder daughter on-hie arms and essayed to, cross the street. There were cheers feu , Mr. • Bi'adney from supporters, and' a great volume of booing from opponents. The crowd gradually closed in oil the ..candidate; he got away without injury, but just as he reached the opposite corner he heard it said that a young lady had fainted. He returned to investigate,' only to discover that it -was hie own youncer daughter, Miss Beatrice Bradnoy. The crowd again threatened Mr. Bradney and were clearly in an extremely ugly_ mood. H« only escaped injury by his stick in a vigorous manner. Mr. Arthur Rosser came up and apologised to him for the actions of the crowd. Young '. Woman Trampled On.. Every attention was, .given to Miss Bradney, but it was too late to prevent her being trampled tpon after she had fainted. 'Dr. Sharman offeredhis ser.vices and the young lady, who is rather delicate at the best of times, was carefully conveyed to a room in the Ponsonby Chib Hotel, : where all that was possible was.done to restore her to consciousness. After she had rested, her father ordered a motor-car and took her homo. . Interviewed' later in the evening, Mr. Bradney eaid that his daughter was in a low state. She had. worn l a wrist watch, and this was subsequently picked .up,on the pavement. It had come'off when tho crowd trampled upon her and had got broken. "I should like to say," declared Mr. Bradney,. "that the occurrences'were most disgraceful to any ponstituency, and it shows plainly what a gang of hoodlums who are trying to put the present .Government';. out, of office. At tho same time, it is part of an organised scheme to break up Government meetings and carry votes of no-confidence in order to make the people of the Dominion believe that the /Liberal' Party is in the ascend-, ance, and I have far too much respect for .my constituents to think for a moment that- that iclan of people , are electors of Auckland l West. • I ' have always been proud of the fact that I havo represented one_ of the most respectable constituencies in New Zealand." ,•""

One man was seen to strike a. constable, ' but was _ not' apprehended. Another, in a Territorial uniform, was arrested on a charge of resisting the pclioe in the execation of their duty. It is. alleged that he kicked one of the mounted constables' horses. The crowd did not break up for a long time, and discussed matters, standing about in knots.