Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 29, No. 9. 1966.
President Arrives
President Arrives
President John McGrath and vice-president Ian McKinnon shortly appeared and demanded knowledge of the organisers and their intentions.
They suggested that drivers held up be told the reasons for the demonstration and then let through. Some agreed and co-operated — others, more militant, shouted no.
The police didn't arrive until nearly twenty minutes after the demonstrations started.
Apparently the Salient reporter who contacted the news media didn't bother to advise the Traffic Department of the protest.
Initially the police stayed in their cars surveying the scene. More arrived and then they attempted to guide cars through the milling students.
"You can't park there, fat guts," yelled one student to a cop who parked his car on the wrong side of the road. At this time there were four police cars and one traffic car present.
McGrath made a plea for students to make way for a taxi bearing people going to a funeral. This was responded to favourably and immediately.