STREET MEETINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1933, Page 5

STREET MEETINGS

ARE UNDESIRABLE SAYS POLICE COMMISSIONER. (Per Press Association Copyright.) AUCKLAND, June* 23. The City Council recently inquired of Commissioner Wohlman-n, the policy of the Police Department towards street meetings, processions, and other .public demonstrations. In his reply, which was received last evening, the Commissioner paid that, in the larger centres particular. Jy, the police were convinced that such gatherings were extremely undesirable. “The events of the p .st year have shown clearly that, requests from people to be allowed to hold street meetings or demonstrations. have been in most instances instigated by subversive elements, ifor >thc purpose of bringing others into conflict with authority, and to advance their own anti-social aims. Under cover of' crowds, -criminal elements in the .community venture into overt acts, 'against the citizens and the State. Th© plea put forward by these agitators, to- be allowed to appear in crowds on the public streets, is not to seek redress of real grievances by. constitutional moans,j but by mass intimidation of citizens -concessions.’ 1 > Ho submitted- :|tihAt . the. time had gone when the r stretts in large, populous cities could or should be used' by massed crowds. It was, therefore, the Police Department’s, policy consistently to advise against permission being granted by local authorities to persons to bold street meetings (other than religious meetings), processions, or demonstrations.

He advised the Auckland Council to pass a by-law, simi'a-r to Wellington’s making it unlawful to- hold processions, without a permit being first granted by the Council. Jn Wellington, making it unlawful being first plications to the -police, and if the police objected, a permit wa s -always -refused.

Councillor T. 810-odworth protested acra-inst the 1-anguag" l psed by the Commissioner, and said that ,he had, no right to send -a, letter in that strain. It was . the Commissioner's -duty to • Administer the - law. He -(Or. '’'Bloodworth) would always -against, the police or anybody else dictat-ng what the 1-ws should he. People elected by democratic vote,..and not officials, wore authorised to msike laws. -A. The Council decided to instruct its (solicitor to prepare a by-l-aw, power to issue npfmjts to be in the Council §_ hands. - : “V; " v- i.-l- '

It also refused. the application .hi the Socialist, party, for a permit to hold meet-pigs iii a suitable side-street.