FIGHT AT PROHIBITION MEETING

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1920, Page 1

FIGHT AT PROHIBITION MEETING

A QUEENSLAND" INCIDENT. SYDNEY, Sept. 28. Exciting scenes occurred at a prohibition meeting at' Toowoomba oil Sunday, and proceedings had to come to an abrupt stop. One hears very little about the liquor issue here in New South Wales, but judging by the freedom by which hotels are being bought and sold in Sydney, the liquor interests do not fear a change. But in Victoria and Queensland the anti-liquor people are making the pace warmer, and a good deal of feeling is being stirred up in consequence. The centre of the Toowoomba disturbance was a Sydney prohibition, orator named W. IL Creagh. His visit had been boomed, and' when he mounted a platform in the'public gardens on Sunday afternoon he faced a large and vcr\ mixed crowd. He began to liammei home the usual'prohibition arguments, and right from the start lie met with iinich interruption. He kept on steadily, but' the interjections came freely; and the exchanges developed heat. Then lie said soitiething—the exact nature of it is riot clear—about barmaids; and the wives and daughters of licensees. The pro-liquor people demanded riii apology. Mr Creagh denied that he ‘ had said anything he ought to apologise for. A well known Toowoomba hotelkeeper pushed forward, and insisted that his womedfolk had been grossly insulted, and he demanded an apology. Mr Creagh refused to apologise. The publican climbed up oil the lorry and repeated his demand. The prohibitionist refused. The crowd was yelling, and in a highly excited condition. The publican juriiped at the lecturer, struck him on the face, and closed with him. fiercely, they fell down together oil to the lorry. Partisans from either side jumped into the fray. Tlie secretary of thc Toowoomba Prohibition Party met an old enemy, arid, somehow, they got together. The secretary was knocked off the lorry. Tlie police intervened, separated the combatants, and restored order. Mr Creagh tried to go oil with his speech, but he was constantly interrupted and “eourited out.” Then a local clergyriian essayed to carry on the meeting. The crowd would have none of him, and, as the crowd was rapidly getting out of hand, the police took a hand again, and on ! their advice the proceedings termift- ! ated. . , . .. .