“PUT THE BOOT IN!”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2727, 1 May 1924, Page 1

“PUT THE BOOT IN!”

REPORTER THREATENED. Settle him ! Crack him ! That’s right pul the hoot in!” A Chris! church Sun reporter drew these cheery exclamations from strikers on Tuesday morning'. Very, very fortunately for him mine of these dire things was put into effect. Rut they show the explosive qualities present among tlm strikers. It happened about 8.80 o'clock in llagley Park, where a mass meeting of the men was held. There were many hundreds of men present, and when the reporter saw them they were being addressed by Mr R. Hampton, a former president of the A.S.R.S., who in vigorous phrases was enjoining his audience to stand hv the executive. When a little distance from the gathering the reporter requested a man who was proceeding to the meeting to inform a member of the executive of his presence and to ask if proceedings were open to the press. In the meantime he waited some distance off for an answer. The messenger disappeared into (lie crowd. A moment later there came a roar: “Where's the reporter?” “Get out?” “We don’t want your sort here!” “Settle him! Crack him!” These shouts, raised as the meeting maidenly turned and directed attention to the reporter, had a nasty hostile ring about them. And when several men made a move in his direction, he realised that he was likely to prove as popular as a stuffed rat in a dog’s home. “Em not trying to spy on you.” he called out. “I sent word to say I was here.” He also attempted to further explain amid several outcries. His remarks appeared to satisfy many, however, and there was a renewed cry of: “Get out, then.” As he turned, a big fellow pushed his way towards him. This caused one man to yell: “That’s right, put the boot ini” But the intentions of the big fellow were peaceable. He was frankly anxious, however. “Here come away,” he said, “You know they’re all decent fellows here, but things might he done in a mob when everyone is excited.” “That’s ail right,” said the reporter, and he farther explained the position. “We know you fellows are all right,” was the reply. “But we want to stall off with an even break- We don’t want anything to happen to prevent this.” At the gate, the big fellow turned "Weil, we’ll shake on it, anyway,” he said. “Are you going to have a procession later V” asked the reporter, for Wltn tUe gatneiing was a. scra.tcii band. “Tin not going to tell you anything,” was the reply. “There’s noluing doing.”—Sun.