"FREE SPEECH"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 192, 3 May 1918, Page 6

"FREE SPEECH"

THE TOWN HALL AND LABOUR DEPUTATION TO CITY COUNCIL. A deputation representing the Labour Representation Committee waitetf upon the City Council last night to .protest against the recent refusal of the council's Finance Committee to allow a public meeting for the discussion of the prolongation of the life of Parliament to be 'held in the Town Hall. The deputation prosentod a copy of a resolution dealing with the matter, passed at a public meeting. Mr. A. Purlano, who headed the deputation, said that the Labour Representation Committee took a serious view of the council's refusal, which was regarded as n breach of British tradition. The meeting which was to have been held in the Town Hall had been called for the discussion of a constitutional question, and there had been no ground for believing that the meeting would be disorderly. He contended that the right of free discuwion was an essential condition of successful democratic government. The nioetiiig would not have militated against the winning of the war. The council had granted the use of the Town Hall to the Protfcstant Poiitical Association, a body which was engaged in stirring up sectarian strife at a timo when Protestants and Catholics were fighting side by siJe in the trenches, Mr. Parlnno added Hut the workers felt that party feeling lir« been responsible for the refusal to let the meeting be held in the Town Hall. The Mayor expressed appreciation of the moderate lone adopted by the deputation. He said he did not wish to discuss the matter in dotail. But threequarters of tho members of the council had supported the refusal. lie had never opposed frw speech, and lie had no prejudice against Labour. He considered that the refusal to let the hull had saved the Labour Representation Committee from a meeting that would not have beer, a credit to file LaJwnr cause. There had been no question of party about the action, of. the council. Mr. J. K. Fitzgerald sniil ho thought the Mayor had not stßted the position quite accurately. Tho council, cut of sympathy for the b'iiwnce Committee, had confirmed its action. But he wanted to tell Iho deputation that the majority of the councillors were opposed to the vif.ws expressed by tlie Finance Committee, lie believed the citizens of Wellington felt as the majority of the councillors did. The committee had mado a mistake, or nn error of judgment. There was no doubt about Hint. Councillor G. Frost said I>e wan satisfied the Finance Contmittce had done the right thing. Tho proposed meeting had not been a purely Labour meeting. It had been intended n≤ itii Attack on l the Government, which v.as trying to do ils share in winning the wnr. There had been speeches mads lately that were on the verge of sedition. ' Councillor Ifilflrcl.lt ?«id Councillor T'rost had no right to assume that anything seditious >>r anti-war would lie said at the meeting. The. LalsmiT Ecprfsentntion Committee had asked for the nso of thn hall to discuss tlie extension of the life of Parliament. That was n legitimate subject for discission. Tho Town Hall wns public rropcrly, and the council was not. entitled to refuse the use of Hie hull for the discussion of public questions. Mr. Parlune thanliccl the council. H" said he hoped thnt when i.«xt the labour Pnrty npplieci for the use of the Town Hell there would be no difficulty. The record of tho f.abonr I'nrty in Wellington Rhowrd that it < aid not hold disorderly moitinss. ind had not been gii'Hy of seditious utterances. Tho deputation then withdrew, anil the council turner! 'o ither business.