"FREE SPEECH."

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2823, 14 July 1916, Page 6

"FREE SPEECH."

AND ANTI-CONSCRIPTION A REQUEST REFUSED The right of free speech and the desirability of anti-conscription meetings were under discussion at tho Cily Council lust evening. One of the council's committee.'; recommended the council to adopt, tho following motion:—"Thai: the application of tho Anti-C'onscripiou League for permission to speak at certain places in the city in connection with the Military Service Bill be refused on the grounds that the speeches may tend to create breaches of the peace in the city." Councillor J. Hutcheson doubted tho wisdom of refusing the right of public speeeli to any body of people who had not actually committed a breach of the peace. Hat! \;e no': enough police to nip any trouble ill the bud? Tho best way to attract attention to these people was to make martyrs of them, particularly on the subject of the oft-fought-for British principle of the right of free speech. Ho spoke as one who had been stoned through the city and assailed with all kinds of missiles. It would bo a good democratic action to accede to the request. The Mayor said that, as a controlling authority! tlio council hi'*] a duty to perform. It would not be Tight to wait, till trouble arose, but the council should avoid disturbance. He would not do anything to Encourage laxity in backing up the men who had gone to the front. Councillor W. H. P. Barber endorsed the attitude of the Mayor. He regretted that anyone should oppose such a motion. Clearly it, was proposed in the liierests of tho good government of the city. If trouble arose through such a gathering, tho German Press would use the fact as a revolt against New Zealand's helping the Empire in. the war. To hold such a gathering -would court trouble, as the sentiments to be voiced would be considerably against the. views held by a. largo number of young men now in khaki. Councillor M. F. Luckie said that the liolding of anti-conscription meetings would probably create trouble, and interfere with recruiting, and he added that it was against a principle which was on the verge of the Statute Book. Councillor A. R. Atkinson said thatlie disliked the kind of citizen in question more than he disliked the alien enemy, but, for various reasons, he found difficulty in supporting the motion. The Mayor said that the police had asked hira to not accede to any requests for thd holding of such meetings. Councillor Hutcheson explained that, he was against the anti-conscrintionists, but that was a different thing from being opnosed to their request. The motion was adapted.