THE CHRISTCHURCH MEETING

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1919, Page 9

THE CHRISTCHURCH MEETING

INTERESTING COMMENT. Christchurch, Dec. 5. The Mayor (Dr. Tlmcker) in expressing regret at the Colosseum occurrence, said he wished it to be plainly understood that it was not at Mr. Massey's behest that the meeting was declared closed. Dr. Thacker, as Mayor, considered it unsafe, considering the large number of women present, to continue in such a densely overpacked audience so Vie announced an adjournment to the band rotunda. Dr. Thacker considers the occurrence one of the ' strongest arguments for the erection of a Town Hall suitable to the needs of the city and the population. Lust night, he. says, about 7000 people' turned out .to hear the Prime Minister, and the opportunity was lost because the city had not a hall suitable to accommodate the crowd. The "Times" blames the extreme Labour section for the break up of Mr. Massey's meeting. Editorially the paper says:—"lt is not Liberalism that refuses an opponent an hearing; it is not Liberalism that puts an affront upon the head of the Government such as , was put upon Mr. Massey last night. The disgraceful demonstration was the ' work of those wild folk whose comrades • in Wellington have caused them to be i known as the interruption party. We I sympathetic with Mr Massey, and assure .- him that the interrupters totally mis- > represent tho temper of Christchurch ■ people as a whole. The responsibility ; for the trouble unquestionably rests - with the small extreme Labour section." 3 Tho "Press" says editorially:—"The r extraordinary happenings in the Colosseum were' not creditable to Christt church, nor, we are sorry we must add.

in the Mayor. If the crowd of people who burst open the already overcrowded hull had restrained themselves, the Prime Minister would have had a successful meeting, although no doubt it would have had its lively passages, and been none the worse for that. The crowd's eagerness to hear Mr. Massey, and his ow >. skill as a public speaker, would have triumphed over the response of the violent partisans of Liberalism to the incitement of hostility contained ] in the manner in which the Mayor, with a deplorable want of understanding of his duties as Chief Magistrate of the City, introduced the Prime Minister, who had come upon his invitation. One can never tell with Dr. Thacker whether he errs through lack of tact and judgment or through excess of partisan zeal. One thing is certain: Sir Joseph Ward is the only party leader who sver accept ' an invitation from the again."