KEEPING ORDER AT MEETINGS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22524, 5 October 1938, Page 10

KEEPING ORDER AT MEETINGS

POLICE WARNING REPEATED

PROSECUTIONS TO BE INSTITUTED COMMISSIONER'S STATEMENT (piim tasoeiATTow rttrauv.) WELLINGTON, October 4. The determination of the Police Department to ensure a fair hearing for candidates at election meetings was reiterated by the Commissioner of Police (Mr D. J. Cummings) in an interview to-day. Referring to the arrest of an interjector at a meeting addressed by Mr D. Pool, National candidate for Eden, in Auckland on Monday night, Mr Cummings said this man would appear in the Magistrate's Court on Thursday. Three men whose names had been taken at Auckland meetings, and two from Otahuhu, would also be charged. As previously intimated, offenders would have the opportunity of giving their names and addresses, and summonses would be issued as quickly as possible. He had been informed that a man had appeared before the Magistrate at New Plymouth to-day, after an election meeting, and had been convicted and discharged. "From police reports that have reached me concerning some of the recent disturbances, it appears that the degree of disturbance has not been as great as would appear from some of the newspaper reports," said Mr Cummings. "However, prosecutions are being instituted, and we are determined to put down any attempt which is being made to prevent a speaker from receiving a fair hearing." Mr Cummings pointed out that police officers received special instruction as to the conduct of election meetings, and were therefore capable of judging the lengths to which interjectors should be allowed to go. Instruction took the form of lectures given on the lines laid down by himself. Counting-out, for instance, was a form of disturbance which should be stopped immediately.