FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 224, 22 September 1938, Page 5

FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

MEASURES APPROVED. ATTITUDE OF MINISTER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLIXGTON, Wednesday. Full agreement with the statement issued by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. D. J. Cu innings, was expressed by the Minister in charge of the Police Department, the Hon. P. Fraser, Labour candidate for Wellington Central, when speaking at Hataitai tot-night. The subject arose at question time, when a man who said he agreed that law and order must be maintained, asked Mr. Fraser whether he thought it necessary to prosecute hecklers.

Mr. Fraser said the Commissioner's statement was published after consultation with himself as Minister in charge of the Police Department. He had'seen the instructions that had gone out to the police and he agreed with them.

As the Commissioner had pointed out no candidate was likely to object to reasonable interjections, but if a candidate was prevented from expressing his views to his fellow citizens, that was wrong and it was against the law. "The law has to be upheld," said Mr. Fraser. "The Commissioner did not say that prosecutions must take place or that it is a criminal offence. Parliament settled that long ago. All I can say is that people who want to help democracy and uphold freedom of speech should not only conduct themselves properly at meetings, but should also induce others to do the same.

"Above all, if they have the cause of Labour at heart, it "is their duty not to interfere with freedom of speech in any way whatsoever. I think the Commissioner's statement was fair, well reasoned, and tolerant, but firm."