PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 17 June 1909, Page 3

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

MEETING OF PROTEST IN WELLINGTON.

ENTRANCE GATES BARRICADED.

The public meeting of protest against the prorogation of Parliament, held in the Town Hall on Tuesday night, attracted an enormous attendance. Some 3500 people were packed into the large hall, and another 3000 failed to obtain addmittauce. The principal speakers were the Wellington city members. They were attentively listened to, and their remarks in condemnation of the prorogation were received with cheers. At the conclusion of the meeting, the great crowd poured out into the streets, and was proceeding its various ways when someone shouted “To Parliament.” The cry was taken up by others, and ran like wildfire through the crowd, which at once headed for Parliament. It gained accessions as it marched up Mercer-street and turned into Lambton-quay. There were hundreds of women in it, and they trudged along besides the sterner sex, who sang choruses and cheered. Nearing the end of Lambton-quay, the trams were blocked, and those in the van of the advancing army started off at the double. Arrived at the lower gate giving entrance to the grounds of Parliament House, it found the place locked and a well-known M.P. on the wrong side of the door arguing the position with some of the malcontents and telling them that they would be disfranchised. In the meantime the main body had passed on up the street to the entrance to Parliament House. A few of them got through the small gate, and some of the Parliamentary officials had quickly barricaded the gates with beams of sawn timber.

At the gates of Parliament House the crowd again sang songs, cheered the Wellington members and hooted some of the police who were keeping the great crowd back. Several rushes were made, but the barricades were too strong. One member of the police, however, got a bad squeezing in the rush. There were loud cries for Messrs Fisher and Wright, and the former eventually made his appearance, and told the crowd that, having made a dignified protest, they should go quietly to their homes.

Mr Fisher’s speech had the effect of quieting the crowd, but they then raised a cry for Mr Wright, member for Wellington South. After some time Mr Wright made his appearance, and mounting one of the gate posts, was received with cheers. He gave similar advice to the crowd to that given by Mr Fisher. There were then cries for Mr T. E. Taylor, but it was intimated that Mr Taylor thought it was not his place to speak, as he was not a Wellington member. He might, however, speak on the subject if he had an opportunity in his own'eity- The crowd remained for some time and then gradually melted away.

Sir Joseph Ward, speaking afterwards in the House on the second reading of the Loan Bill, referred to the demonstration that had been made. He charged the Wellington members with having gone behind his back on the eve of his departure, by endeavouring to influence the people against him (Governmement cheers). With great force and in a perfect torrent of words which no shorthand reporter could keep pace with, Sir Joseph Ward went on to criticise the action of the Wellington members in forcible terms. These, he said scornfully, were the men of courage who urged that the future of this country should be placed in their hands. Sir Joseph went on to say that he had been told that they were arranging an adverse demonstration on the eve of his departure, “Let them do it,” he said. “Let them have the glory of it. Let Mr J. G. W, Aitken tell them to storm this building and create the impression that this is the voice of the people of Wellington. (Cries of shame from the Government benches.) I hope they are proud of it.” One of them (Mr Fisher) had told them that he was coming up to make his seventeeth speech, “ and by heavens we have had it,” added Sir Joseph Ward, “ and not a soul in the House listened to it. When he (Mr Fisher) sat down he looked the picture of misery, and so he went down to the gate there. He said to the crowd, ‘ I have delivered my speech, I have annihilated him. Come and see the effect of what I have done.’” (Laughter.) Sir Joseph Ward resumed his seat ad midst loud and continued applause from the Government benches.

Mr Jennings rose in his seatand said he thought the members of the House should rise in their sea.ts and give three cheers for Sir Joseph Ward. (Cries of “No, no,” from the Government benches and “ Shame ” from the Opposition benches.) Mr Jennings rose in his seat, waved his hand, and cheered, but there was no response to his invitation, and he was a solitary demonstrator.

After Sir Joseph Ward had re* sumed his seat there was quite a crop of personal explanations. For a time the Parliamentary atmosphere had been quite electrical, but after the explanations the House got into Committee on the Loan Bill, and quietness reigned once more.