THE ROYAL TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1927, Page 1

THE ROYAL TOUR

THE “TIMES” LEADER

[“ The Times ” Service.]

LONDON, Feb. 21

On the occasion of the Renown’s arrival, the “Times” in a leader, stresses that though the farthest removed of all the Dominions, New Zealand is still tiie closest in spirit to the parent land, ft recalls the feeling ih New Zealand that, the inter-relations report wouhi necessitate consent to loosening the bonds, hut Mr Conies had since put the report in the proper perspective, showing tliat New Zealand was doing real service to the Empire by the acceptance of unsought implications of equal status. The leader adds:—“The Yorks will bo speaking for all the King’s subjects in Britain when they express the warm regard in which Now Zealand is held.” CORDONS BROKEN. SEVERAL PEOPLE COLLAPSE. AUCKLAND, February 22. The breaking to-day of the police cordon round the Town Hall entrance created an unforeseen situation at the moment Their Royal Highnesses were taking their departure at the close of the civic reception. For a few minuutes. the surging of 100 or 000 people round the royal car took on ;t serious aspect, numbers of women being crushed in the melee, which the thirty constables present were powerless to prevent. Three women and one child were carried out of the stampeding crowd in a fainting condition and were attended to by the St. John Ambulance officers and nurses, who were on duty in the ball. Beyond a few bruises received in the crush, none of them was much worse for the exciting experience, the most serious case being that of a woman who received slight abdominal injuries, as the result of her umbrella breaking against her body. The first hint of the trouble occurred at I I o’clock, while the civic reception was in progress. About 200 people were gathered outside the main doors of the Town Hall waiting for the Duke and Duchess to emerge on their return to Government House. There was an air of expectancy about the waiting crowds and at this stage their behaviour was strictly orderly, the people standing patiently behind the rope harrier. Tn addition to the police, two lines of armed sailors from the warships of the Now Zealand Squadron were stationed at this spot. Within a space of twenty minutes, however, the crowd round the doors was almost trebled in size hv an invasion of thousands of people from the lower end of Queen Street. These newcomers, eager to see what was taking place round the doors, pressed heavily tin those in lront. and pushed back the row ol constables guarding the rope harriers. The worst erusli occurred on the footpath outside the offices of the .Mayor and Town Clerk. Here tlic front rows of spectators had been pushed and bullied by those at the hade, until it had been necessary to summon police reserves to strengthen the cordon. To make matters worse, the rope harrier came down, and for tjventy minutes a score of burly policemen, their arms linked together, strained against the mighty pressed of the crowd behind.

When, a few minutes later, a St. John’s Ambulance Officer hastened forward and curried a prostrate woman into the Town Hall, the good humour and light-hcartedness of the crowd suddenly became tempered with concern, and the police took immediate steps to get some of the women and children to a place of safety. The people at the rear, however, were unaware of the distress that they were causing to those in front, and they continued to press forward. The break through occurred just as Their Royal Highnesses were leaving the Town Hall to enter their ear. In spite of frantic efforts to keep th<' crowd steady, the police harrier was pressed hack along the line of the footpath, and simultaneously the crowd from the opposite side of the street and from Alexander Street, poured over the roadway, pushing aside the sailors, who tried to stem the crush. In what was described by many women as a disgraceful scone people were jostled and children were knocked over as the crowd surged round the royal ear. Numbers of women had their shoes and stockings cut and soiled by tin' trampling of heavy feet, and only a few escaped from the throng without bruises. Although the behaviour of the crowd was at times far from gentle, its intentions were always of the best, anil the final rush upon the royal ear was made to the accompaniment of cheers and cries of welcome. Their lioynl Highnesses, who were shown into a closed ear. which had been substituted for an open car. owing to the downpour of rain, bowed graciously to the people who pressed upon them, and greeted the applause with smiles. With half a dozen constables riding on the ruiiniiigboard. the Royal car wedged its way through the concourse and proceeded to Government House, between dense linos of cheering people. Owing to the crowds which still pressed round i..e Town Hall • doors, it was some minutes later before the Prime Minister and his party could follow. AVhat

still further complicated matters num. hers of people who were attending the civic reception ignored the Mayor’s appeal to wait until the Duke and Duchess had left the Hall, and these, crowding into the lobby, blocked the departure of some of the official guests.

A USTRALI AN PREPARATIONS. SYDNEY. February 22

Proparal inns for tlio visit of the Yorks are well forward, and include many elaborate functions mostly confined to the city. There js some discontent owing to country centre: being cut out but this is unavoidable owing to the shortness of the time available. The day of the arrival will be proclaimed a public holiday.

A discordant note was struck at the conference of the Trades Union, the militant section carrying a resolution in favour of boycotting the Yorks’ visit, declaring all celebrations were a nti-working class.