MR. MASSEY AT GHRISTCHURCH

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 July 1911, Page 3

MR. MASSEY AT GHRISTCHURCH

AX UNRULY MEETING. An extraordinary scene was witnessed in Christchuroli last niVilit. when the Lea dor of the Opposition attempted to deliver a political address. The Choral Hall, which accommodates 1500, was packed to a dangerous degree, and many hundreds clamoured outside! The chairman (Mr Taylor, M.P.), after consultation with'Mr Massey, de-clar-p. 1 the mooting closed, but the erowl declined to go. and eventually Mr Massey made a few remarks, in its. course of which he promised to come back to Cliristchurch aind give his address.

Mr Taylor several times expressed regret to Mr Massey at the way thing turned 'out. biit pointed out thiiit under the 'circumstances the only thing to lie done was to close the in net in^.

MR, TAYLOR'S VfEWS

Interviewed after the meeting ha.tl broken up, ]\]- Taylor said it would have been highly dangerous to Ihbldi tno menting in its crushed state, and every reasonable minded man would agree with his action in not allowing it to proceed.

WHAT MR MiASSEY THOUGHT. "So far as T was .able to see," said Mr Massey, later on in the evening, "the_ crowd was not a hostile crowd! The impression I .got was *hat tihey were friendly rather than otherwise, but all sides of politics wer-d represented. lam quite sure tibat if I had been able to go on without risk to the a'udipCTce, I would have had a very friendly meeting, and a very jrood (hearing. As it is, I dlon't kniow whether I shall be able to come back until Parliament meets, hut I will come over then and spend a week-end in Christchurcih addressing a meeting here, and if necessary, another after tha-t."