FREEDOM OF SPEECH
ESSENTIAL IN DEMOCRACY JUDGE’S POINTED COMMENT Rec. 9 p.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 1. The heckling of the Opposition Leader, Mr R. G. Menzies, at a meeting during the Federal elections in September, 1946, evoked strong criticism by Mr Justice Barton in the Quarter Sessions Appeals Court, today, when a merchant seaman successfully appealed against a gaol sentence of one month for disorderly conduct. A fine of £5 was imposed in lieu of “ I°*have not the slightest sympathy with this type of conduct, and I think it is absolutely essential in a democracy to preserve the right of the public to hear what a man has to say,” declared the judge. “Although these men may not realise it through their ignorance, they are, in fact, the worst enemies of democracy.” Police evidence showed that the man had shouted, “Pigiron Bob. You dirty Fascist.” A total of 15 men were arrested -at the meeting during the course of which a lump of pigiron was thrown on to the platform.
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 5
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169FREEDOM OF SPEECH Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 5
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