POLITICAL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10284, 12 July 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL

MR MASSEY AT CHRISTGHURGH., AN ENORMOUS CROWD. BEHAVES IN A SHAMEFUL MANNER. \ MR MASSEY DENIED A HEARING. By Telegraph — Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. By 7.15 o'clock this evening, the Choral Hall in Gloucester Street, which has seating capacity for 1500 people, was crammed to the doors to hear Mr W. F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, deliver a political address. The aisles and gallery, indeed, every available foot of space, was occupied, while a big crowd clamoured for admission outside. In spite of the desperate work of 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 Joseph 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, women 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 (Mayor, of Christehurch) stepped forward and announced that unless the aisles we're cleared the meeting could not be held —the danger to the crowd was toe great. This announcement was greeted with mixed cheers and groans, and the uproar continued for three or four minutes. "It is still ten minutes before starting time. ' said Mr-Taylor. "If thore people will kindly KP Mr Mass?y.. will address the rest." He added that; he consulted Mr 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 subsided he said that, failing his being able to address a meeting that nignt, 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 Massey replied that'his voice would not last half an hour in the open air. Mr Taylor then made another appeal to people in the aisles to go out j and let the meeting proceed, and a fair number complied with the request, but at their exit at the fir.--* door the crowd became worse at the side door, and threatened to stampede the ser' s. Some minr.tes of uproar elapsed, and at two minutes past S Mr Tavln;rose and said: "As ch'-' -van of this meeting I find it altogether to dangerous for Mr Massey to deliver an address, and I, therefore declare the meeting closed." . • There was no movement on -tbe n.nrt 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 the platform, turned to go amid crie* of "Cowards'!" and "Come outside!" Someone in tho gallery, during a lull in the uproar, moved a vote ->f confidence in Mr Massey, and this was heralded by loud cheers. Then some foolish persons, presumable to induce i he crowds 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 in- • duced by thosa behind to leave by , way of the stage, and a rush on the platform .was threatened. As it was, many clambered over palms, th? reporters tables, and crushed through the stage doors afc the back of the building. By 8.15 the hall had emptied to no great extent, but the crowd inside harl become considerably quieter. Mr Massey again stepped forward j and said: "Ladies and Gentleman, — J I want to thank you for the compliment you have paid me." (Cheers.) A voice: "Where's the chairman?" Mr Massey: "I am not going to make a speech. T have only two words to say. I Want to thank you for the compliment you have paid mc in coming here to-night. (Loud and continued applause.) I have come 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 voice: "What about the apology?" Mr Massey: "I intended to-night to refer to the Acting-Premier's speech, and also to refer to what has been known in Christchurch as the TaylorMassey incident. I intended also to put before you the platform of the Opposition party to which I belong. , (Loud; applause.) I am sure that once you heard it you would support it very heartily. (Loud 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 to-night. Let me say this: I may not be able to do it in one night, or two nights, but if I don't do it in two nights I will do it in three, and will tell you this, that before the election comes round, even if I have to leave my own district, I will come to Christchurch and meet you here again from the platform. (Loud applause.) A voice from the gallery: "Why are you speaking now the Mayor has gone." Mr Massey: "I have just been reminded that I 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.) Some one in the rear of the hall . started "For He's a Jolly Good Feilow," and this was taken up by the 1 throng both 'nside and outside, and 1 sung with fervour. " The crowd then gradually filtered , from the building. Mr Massey, accompanied by Mr O A. C. Hardy, M.P. for Selwyn, left , the hall snd was followed by a large crowd.