MR MASSEY IN CHRISTCHURCH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 15, 12 July 1911, Page 5

MR MASSEY IN CHRISTCHURCH

A TREMENDOUS CROWD. UPROAE AND CONFUSION. ADDRESS IMPOSSIBLE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. This evening the Choral Hall in Gloucester street, which has a seating capacity for 1500 .people, was crammed to the doors to hear Mr. W. F. Masaey, Leader of the Ooposition, deliver a political address. nie aisles and gallery, indeed every available foot of space was occupied, while a big crowd clamored for admission outside, fn spite of desperate work by the police the crowd became unmanageable, and the influx could not be stopped. The crowd inside the hall alternately called for cheers for Mr. Massey, Sir J. G. Ward and others. It was quite evident that under these conditions the meeting could not be held, as the crowd outside the building were making a loud din. To make matters worse, a woman fainted in the crush at the Madras street entrance, and this so disturbed the crowd that for some minutes anyone who tried to speak could not make himself heard. At twenty minutes to eight Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P., Mayor of Christchurch, stepped forward, and announced that unless the : aisles were cleared the meeting could not be held, as the danger to the crowd was too great.

This was greeted by mixed groans and cheers, and the uproar continued for three or four minutes. "It is still ten minutes before starting time," said Mr. Taylor. "If these people will kindly go out Mr. Massey will address the rest." He added that he had consulted Massey before making this announcement. There was a perfect storm of cheers and hoots when Mr. Massey stepped forward to speak, and for some time he could not get a hearing. When the noise had subsided he said that, failing his being able to address the meeting that night ,he would return and meet the electors of Christchurch as soon as possible and let them hear him. He would not break his promise to let them hear what the opposition platform was. (Cheers.)

At this stage there was a terrific noise from outside the hall, and no one could be heard. There were loud cries of "Address us in Latimer Square!" But Mr. Masse)' replied that his voice would not Inst half an hour Jn the open air. Mr. Taylor then made another appeal to the people in the aisles to go out and let the meeting proceed, and a fair number complied with the request, hut at their exit at the front doors the crowd became worse at the side door, and threatened to stampede the seats. Some minutes of uproar elapsed, and at two minutes past eight Mr. Taylor rose and said: "As chairman of this meeting f find it altogether too dangerous for Mr. Massey to deliver his address, and I therefore declare the meeting closed."

There was no movement on the part of the crowd, however, to leave, but Mr. Massey, accompanied by Mr. Taylor and members of the Canterbury * Reform League, who had been able to struggle on to the platform, turned to go. There were cries of "Cowards!" and "Come outside!"

Someone in the gallery, during a lull in the uproar, moved a" vote of confidence in Mr. Massey, and this was heralded by loud cheers. Then some foolish person, presumably to induce the crowd to leave the building, turned out one of the lamps over the gallery, and this threatened a panic until the police obtained quiet. At one stage the crowd directly in front of the platform were being induced by those behind to leave by way of the stage, and a. rush on the platform was threatened. As it was, many clambered over the palms and the reporters' tables, and crushed through the stage doors at the back of the building.

By S.lo the liall had been emptied to no gr<;at extent, hut the ci'owd ins.ue had become considerably quieter. Mr. Massey again stepped' forward, and said: "Ladies and gentleinen, I want to thank you for the compliment you have ■paid me." (Oheers.) A voice: "Where's the chairman?"

Mr. Massev: "I am not going to make a speech. T have only two words to say. I want to thank you for the eomplinient you h-ave paid me. in coming here to-night." (Loud and continued applause.) 1 have como all the way from Auckland to address this meeting, when nights are valuable because we are now within a fortnight or three weeks of the commencement of the session.

A Aoice: What about the apology? Mr. Massey: 1 intended to-night to lefer to the Acting-Prime Minister's speech, and also to refer to what has been known in Christclmrch as the "Tay-lor-Masscv incident." I intended also to put betore you the platform of the Opposition Party to which I belong. (Lour applause.) ] am sure once yo'u heard it von would support it -.very heartily. (Lour applause.) I intended also to show you the grave defects in the administration of the present Government, and to put forward considerations you have not heard from a Christchurch platform; but I cannot do It tonight, Let me say this: I may not be able to do it in one uiglit 01* two nights, but if I don't do it in two nights do it in three, and T will tell'you this: that before the election comes round, even if 1 have to leave my own district, 1 will come to Christclmrch and meet you here again from the platform. (Loud applause.)

A voice_ from the gallery; Why are you spooking now the Mayor has gone? .Mr Massey: I have just been reminded that, 1 indicated to the Mayor I had no intention of speaking. I have spoken longer than I expected, and I must now again thank you for the hearty reception you have accorded me. (Loud applause.) ■Someone in the rear of the hall started, "For he's a jolly good fellow," and this was taken up by the throng both inside and outside, and sung with fervor. The crowd then gradually filtered from the building. Mr. Massey, accompanied by Mr. C A. 0, Hardy, M.|>. for Selwyn', left the hall, and was followed by a large crowd. Mr. Taylor several times expressed regret to Mr. Massey at the way things had turned out., but pointed out that under the circumstances the only thin" to be done was to close the meeting. ° Interviewed after the meeting "had broken up. Mr. Taylor said it would have been highly dangerous to hold a meeting in the crushed state of the hall, and every reasonable-minded man would *tgioc wiln his action in not allowing it to proceed. " "So far as ] was able to see," said Mr. Massey later on in the evening, "the crowd was not, a hostilo crowd. The impression I got was that they were friendly rather than otherwise,' but ali sides of politics were represented at the meeting. 1 am quite sure that if I had been able to go on without risk to the audience T would have had a very friendly meeting and a very good hearing. As it is, I doubt now whether I shall lie able to come back until Parliament meots, but I will come over then and spend a week-end in Christchurch, > ' >

addressing a meeting here, and, if necessary, another after that." [On page 7 of this issue will be found ail article dealing with the dispute between Mr. Masaey and Mr. Taylor, referred to in the report above.] ,