FIERCE BATTLE AT CHRISTCHURCH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 79, 24 November 1931, Page 5

FIERCE BATTLE AT CHRISTCHURCH

(Press Assn.-

fists and batons HOSTILE CROWD ATTEMPTS TO STORM PRIME MINISTER'S ' 1 ELECTION MEETING LEAVES BY BACK FENCE

— By Telegraph — Copyright.)

CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Angry scenes, culminatmg in a fierce battle in the doorway of the Caledonian Hall here marked the Prime Minister's meeting to-night. An effort was made by an angry section of the crowd to storm the doors of the hall and when tHis was resisted by tbe police a battle developed in which batons and fists were freely used, combatants on both sides showing the marks of conflict. At the conclusion of the meeting it was deemed wise to take Mr. .Forbes from the hall by tbe back entrance and this was suCcessfuIly accomplished. He reached, his hotel after he and his pa'rty had scaled a high fence and crossed a private garden. Long. before the hour for the Prime Minister, tbe Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, to address a meeting in tbe Caledonian Hall here to-night thousands of people had congregated in the street in front of the doors anxious to enter. Admission was by ticket only until 7.30 p.m. After that time it had been intended to admit the general public. The crowd in the roadway outside the hall, however, numbered at least 3000, who clearly could not all be admitted. In the forefront of the crowd near the doors was an angry section which tried to force an entrance by weight of. numbers. They broke an iron gate ih front of the doorway. The police ihtervened at once and held the cfowd back while they attempted to barricade the doors with two long forms. This was, however, broken down by the crowd and a madly fierce battle was then fought in the doorway between the police and a number of men who had forced their way inside. Police Draw Batons The police drew their batons and used them effectively. Fists were used freely by both the police and the disturbers and the combatants on both sides bore traces of the eonflict. In all 25 policemen were on duty and this considerable force proved suffiqient to prevent the rioters from fushing the hall and taking charge of the meeting. ; The crowd outside, so long as they kept quiet, could hear the speech fhrough the loud-speakers, which sounded very clearly. There was, however, much noise and some illfemper which led to one or two minor brushes between the rowdy element and the police. These were not serious and no further attempt was made to force an entrance inside the hall. Mr. Forbes was given a good reception and an excellent hearjng. Mr W. Hayward presided. After the meeting the friendly people in the audience dispersed quickly, but the hostile crowds, together with inany hundreds of curious onlookers, remained. Unfrieudly Reception It was evident that Mr. Forbes would be given an unfriendly reception, and possibly worse, by this fcrowd if he attempted to pass and on the advice of members of the committee which had charge of the arrangements it was decided that Mr. Forbes should leave the hall by the back entrance. The Prime Minister, with the other members of his party, scaled a high fence by means of a step-ladder, crossed a private garden into another street, and reached his hotel unobserved by the hostile demonstrators. In his speech the Prime Minister followed closely the lines of his Rangiora address. He spoke on railways, unemployment, pensions, the Arbitration Court, help for farmers and assistance to secondary industries. He declared that the Labour Party's policy, as enumerated' would, if carried out, mean an extra cost to the country of £12,000,000. If any such policy was attempted, he said, old age pensions, about which Labour candidates had shown some anxiety, would not be paid because they could not be paid. Mr. Forbes was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence in the Coalition Government.