EXCITEMENT IN CHRISTCHURCH

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 61, 5 December 1919, Page 8

EXCITEMENT IN CHRISTCHURCH

IMMENSE CROWD TO HEAR PRIME MINISTER TERRIFIC SCRAMBLE FOR PLACES MEETING HAS TO BE ABANDONED. Br Teleeranh—Proßi Association. Christchurch, December 4. In responso to the request of tho Mayor of Chriatchurch (Dr. Thackei - , M.P.), tho I'rime Minister arrived in Christchurch this evening with the intention of delivering a political address in the Colosseum, one of the largest halls in the city, 'l'his building can safoly accommodate about 4000 persons. The meeting was to have commenced at 8 o'clock, and it was advertised that ladies with escorts would be given tho privilege of admittance. By 7 o'clock tho ordinary seating accommodation of tho Colosseum was occupied, and the doors were closed. For the next hour queues were heavily congested, and there began an insistent clamour for admittance.

Mr. Massey, with the Mayor and others, arrived at 7.40, the Prime Minister being received with cheers and coun-ter-demonstrations, both from insido and outside,

The Colosveum entrance facing Gloucester Street was the scene of great excitement by 7.30 p.m. Men were struggling to approach the doors, and scoTes of people were ventilating personal grievances or political convictions An enterprising section of young men had climbed up to the corrugated roof and proceeded to storm the skylights. The police were pcwerless in such a huge crowd, and tho tinkling of broken glass was mingled with choers and hoots from hundrods of voices.

There was not seating accommodation loft for anybody in the building a quarter of an ho>ur before the announced time of opening the meeting, and as there was a large percentage of ladies present the exceptionally large posse of police on special duty would not then allow any more people to enter. Under these circumstances it was Been it would be unwise to continue with the meeting, bocauso in the event of anyone being overcome by the vitiated atmosphere it would liave been almost impossible to reach tho exits.

Mr. Massey himself was doubtful about proceeding with tho meeting owing to the density and excitement of tho audience, but the (Mayor advised him to haiig on. Just as the Mayor proceeded to open the meeting a determined storm of noiso was set up by a section of those who were locked out on a firo escape, and the chaix--man'B remarks wore inaudible because of the'great din set up by the battering rams of tho stormers.

Dr. Thackor was heard to say it was only British fair play to give the Prime Minister of the country a fair hearing. He reirretted that Christchurch did not li*ve a largo enough hall to accomwodato the huge crowd which desirea' to hear- the Leader of the Government speak in Christchurch.

After the chairman's remarks, Mr. Massev briellv oonferred with him, and then rose to sneak. Ho had hardly expressed his pleasure at .seeing such a huge gathering when his voice was drowned by the excited effort of the battering-rams on the side-doors, and, these giving way, hundreds of men poured in.to tho already overnacked audience. It was estimated that there was between six and seven thousand peoplo in tho hall.

A police official .was noticed fighting his wav to the platform, when the Mayor stood up and,announced above the tumult that the meeting could not be held in tho Colosseum on account of ovcrcrowdinc. but Mr. Massey ■ would give an aodress at tho Band llotunda at yictoria Stiuare. There was then a rush for exits by the electors desiring to gain vantage oomts at Victoria Square. Those who got there were regaled by a brass band giving an open-air concert. Meanwhile Mr. Massey and others were ficrhtinsr their way to the nnte-rooms behind the platform. Mr. Massey remained in the ante-room until the congestion was removed, and then went to his hotel. Interviewed afterwards, the Mayor said he was very sorry for what had occurred, but it proved the need for Christchurch having a Town Hall which could accommodate the vast crowds which would turn out on such occasions. • CROWD 1 EAGER TO HEAR MR. ■ MASSISY. By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Christchurch, December 4. It - should be made porfectly clear that in the whole of tho regrettable proceedings at the Colosseum to-night no hostility whatever was shown to Mr. Massoy by the enormous audionco in tho hall. The crowd in the hall and the majority of those outfiide it were merely eager to hear Mr. Massey, but this was mado impossible by the crushing and crowding, and resultant noise. MR. MASSEY INTERVIEWED HOW THE TROUBLE STARTED, By Telegraph—Press association. £ £ Christchurch, December 4. Interviewed lato to-night, Mr, Massey said that the hall was uncomfortably crowded from tho outset, and the trouble commenced when a number ol men, several hundreds of them, who were outside, burst open the door, and gained an entrance.-' Owing to the inrush of theso men the hall became seriously overcrowded, and it was apparent that it would bo quito impossible to go on with his address. >

Ho did not care to comuiont on what took place, except to say that if the right of free speech was to bo interfered with, as had been tho case on several occasions during this election, then it was a case of goodbyo to th» liberty and freedom of which wo had been so proud .in the past. 110 folt certain that it was 'only a passing phase, and what was going on at present would bring its own ■ remedy at no distant date. Mr. Massey added that he had engagements overy night up to the polling date, and was 'sorry ho could not como back to Cliristchurch to speak.

DR. THACKER BLAMED FOR THE x OUTBREAK. By'Telcgraph.—Special Correspondent. . Christchurch, December i. Tho Mayor (Dr. Thackcr) is blamed for puttiug the match to tho powdermagazine. In introdncin,sr M.r. Massey ilie could not refrain from introducing the political partisan touch by stating that Mr. Mafisey was present in his capacity as Prime Minister, but that ne.\t time ho came to Christchurch it would be in another capacity. After that all was Bedlam. Nearly every m?mber of tho local Police Force, from Superintendent Dwyer downwards, was on duty at the Colosseum to-night, but even tlicn their, numbers wero totally insufficient) for tho purpose of keying order.

"I brieve that Labour and Capital are accessary to build up a country and that they could along without so much friction." said Mr. R. A. Wright at his Island Bay meeting, "I don't think we should be turning round and everlastingly shouting Capital, because tho capitalist ia necessary to open up the cbuntry."

Asked if he was prepared to debate the Labour Party's pint-form with Mr. Semple on a public platform, Lient.-Colonel G. Mitchell, D.5.0., replied to the electors of Wellington Smith last evening as follows:—"Ladies and gentlemen, I will never stand on tho same platform—(thunderous applause)—with a man whose opinions and actions during the war T so entirely disagreed with." (I,oud and prolonged applause.)

Mr. It. Hill, Independent Progressive candidate for the Napier seat: He was in favour of n coalition, but if that was not possible ho would support Mr. Massey, who in the last session had done bo much for the people of this country.