PROTESTS VOICED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 180, 1 August 1941, Page 2

PROTESTS VOICED

ACTION OF COUNCIL

FREE SPEECH ADVOCATES

Free speech, free love, paganism. Communism, and the city by-laws relating to the Town Hall were subjects discussed or dealt with in question and answer at a meeting of the Auckland City Council last evening, when several deputations were received arising out of the action of the council at its last meeting in endorsing the action of the Mayor, Mr. J. A. C. Allum. in withholding permission for the use of the Town Hall for the purpose of passing resolutions pledging support tor Russia in her war with Germany. After the deputations had been heard at length, it was decided on the motion of the Mayor that the protests against the action of the council be noted, and that the representations made with respect to the conditions of letting the Town Hall be referred to the finance committee for report. In the latter connection it was asked, on behalf of the Aid to Russia Committee,' that the contentious clause in the letting conditions of the hall as they concern political meetings be removed. Subsecjuently, the council resolved that, if a further application for the use of the hall is received from the Aid to Russia Committee, it will be referred to a special meeting of the council. No National Anthem Prior to the hearing of the deputations, Mr. A. St. Clair Brown expressed opposition to the receiving of the Aid to Russia Committee's deputation, and described certain terms of a letter forwarded by Mr. R. Armstrong on behalf of the committee as "insolent and objectionable." He also commented on the fact that in the programme of the proposed meeting submitted to the council the committee omitted reference to the singing of the National. Anthem.

The council decided to receive tne deputation and the first speaker was Mr. Armstrong, who said that associated with him were the Auckland Trades Council of the Federation of Labour, the Labour Representation Committee, the Democratic Labour Party, the Freedom Association, Communist Party, United Women's Movement, various unions and other organisations. The Aid to Russia Committee considered that by its actions the council had violated the principle of free speech, and consciouslv or unconsciously had taken political action. It was felt that a §rave injustice had been committed y the council arriving at its decision without having the full facts placed before it. Hurriedly Drawn Programme , In reply to questions, Mr. Armstrong said it was proposed to sing the National Anthem at the meeting. but the programme submitted was drawn up hurriedly. He added that he and his associates had always been behind the present war effort. He did not consider Russia was a better place than the British Empire, but he had previously been asked if he would fight for Russia and he had said, '"Certainly, if necessary." He also declared that he was not a Communist, and at the present time belonged to no [Political party. The next speaker, Mr. F. Craig, vice-president of the Auckland Trades Council said that the matter was merely one of free speech so far as his organisation was concerned. The Federation of Labour right through had supported the war effort. Mr. P. Roonan, speaking for the Labour Representation Committee. said it was safe to say that every Russian who died in the battle to-day had died fighting for an Englishman. An Inalienable Right. Mr. R. M. Algie, for the Freedom Association, said that he found himself identified with people with whose views he was in opposition for the rest of the year. His association had consistently fought for the right of free speech, not only for itself but for anyone who was prepared to exercise it within the law. The British constitution gave an inalienable right to free speech. Subsequently the Mayor stated that it was clear from the requests of the deputations that the Aid to Russia Committee desired to make further application for the use of the Town Hall, and he therefore moved that the matter be referred to the finance committee with power to act. If necessary there could be a special meeting of the council. Mr. F. N. Ambler moved an amendment that if the committee made a further application it be granted. Mr. H. P. Burton supported the amendment, contending that the finance committee should not have to accept responsibility which was that of the council as a whole. Bound by Conditions The Mayor pointed out that the council was bound by the conditions for the letting of the hall, which the Aid to Russia Committee had askc! it to reconsider. Unless something were done to amend those conditions the council could not move. Miss E. Melville suggested that the council would be quite in order in deciding that the proposed meeting was not political and granting the application if it were renewed. Finally it was agreed that if the committee made a further application for the use of the hall the matter would be referred to a special meeting of the council.