LETTERS FROM THE POLICE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1810, 24 July 1913, Page 8

LETTERS FROM THE POLICE.

SOAP-BOX ORATORS. T. H. Davey (Christchurch Enst) asked the Minister for Justice whether lie approved of members of the police force writing letters such as that written by Sergeant Wohlinann, of Waihi, to the Borough Council. Ho quoted the following extract from the sergeant's letter, which 1 dealt with street speakers:— "I take it- the experience of this town of the public discord and annoyance caused 1)y some of these persons during the past two years is fresh in mind', ami doubtless the pleasant change of the past six or eight months, when there has been an entire freedom from it, has been .duly noted and appreciated by the citizens. It is not expected; 'however, that this immunity will long continue unless some steps are taken to prevent it. I would respectively suggest for .consideration whether it would, not be entirely in the best interests of the town and for its good government if 'soap-box' orators were, by a by-law, entirely prohibited from speechifying in, and so making an improper uso of, the public streets." The Hon. A. L. Herdman (Minister for Justice) said in reply the Government did not approve of members of tho force writing official letters containing remarks that might be considered • offensive by any section of tho community. Inquiry was being made about the particulars letter referred* to.

LADIES IN THE HOUSE.

Doubtless everybody knows that at'present Parliament is housed in tomporarj premises, which are far from providing all tho conveniences desirable. Because of cramped gallery space, the custom has grown up of permitting lady visitors to oTCiflow their gallery accommodation and occupy chairs along the back and side of the Chamber. Although bodily, of course, within tho Chamber, the lauies aro not legally in tho House, and their presence cannot bo recognised under any of the rules of tho House. In spite of this, however, members of tho House have twice of late, in the course of debate, recognised without challenge the presence of ladirj in the Chamber. Curiously enough, tho two membsrs who made this lapse belong to tho legal profession. The first "offender" was Mr. J. A.Hanan, of Invercargill, and the second was Mr. T. M. Wilford (Lower Hutt), who, on Tuesday, mado the presence of the ladies an excuse for not reading portion of a Bill. In the House of, Commons tho Speaker, by a polito fiction, cannot "see" the ladies, although upon the demand of a nvomher who "spied" strangers, the rest of the galleries would liavo to bo cleared.