RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2617, 12 November 1915, Page 9

RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH

SOCIALISTS AND STREET MEETINGS. A deputation from the New Zealand Socialist Party waited 011 the City Council last night to apply for a permit to liold street meetings. Speakers pointed out' that for a number of years tlie party had conducted street propaganda, and there had been no serious disturbances; during the last four or live years there had not been the slightest disturbance, but a few weeks ago tlioy were prevented by tho police from holding their usual Sunday street meeting because they did not liavo a permit. They desired to know if tho police had been instructed by the counoil to stop the meetings. They felt tlioy bad a ridit for free speech, as they simply sought- to make the workers think for themselves.

Councillor Fitzgerald asked if the utterances of the Socialist Party were calculated to retard recruiting. 1 One of the speakers of the deputation said that the propaganda ..of the party had nothing to do with recruiting, and the utterances ,of the party were not calculated to stop recruiting. The Mayor said that they had no Wish to stop the Sooialist propaganda; they took no responsibility for what had taken place, _ and no instructions had been given with regard to the,meetings. They wanted, however, some idea of tho capacity of the speakers to conform to the ordinary government of the country. If there was going to be any tendency to discuss anything not to the beat interests of the country then the police had their own powers. Hie' council could only givo the permit to speak, and the police were the deteiv milling faotor as to what was uttored. Fie did ■ not think the council would endeavour to stop free speech. In withdrawing, Mr. Roberts, for the deputation, said that they would never 'interfere with the best interests of the Empire, as far as the workers were concerned.

Subsequently Councillor M. F. Luckie said that he was given to understand that the meeting was stopped because of pro-German utterancos, and the police took the ground that as the speakers had no permit they could 6top tho meeting. ' Councillor Atkinson moved that the matter should be referred to tho Finance Committee for consideration.

Councillor Luckie contended, with others, that in future tho Mayor should not give expression to an opinion of policy, as coming from the council. Councillor Fitzgerald said that he had been prepared to move that it was not in the interests of good government for the Mayor to commit tile council t-o aiiy policy before they had discussed tho matter. He had beeu told that the propaganda of the Socialist Party at present was likely to retard recruiting. The Mayor: Then the police ■ would deal with them.

Councillor Fitzgerald said that he ac« cepted the statement of tlie deputation that t'hoir intention was not to retard recruiting. Councillor L. M'Kenzie said that he had listened to one of tho meetings, and it'seemed to him that , tho uttorauces of one individual were not in the hest , interests of the country. He did not attribute ,tlie utterances to the party, but fife thought some. guaranteo should bo given of what was going to be said. After a good deal of discussion it was decided to refer the matter to the Finance Committee, to report to next meeting of the council.