STREET MEETINGS IN AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22894, 15 December 1939, Page 10

STREET MEETINGS IN AUCKLAND

Complaints About Use Of Loud Speakers CITY COUNCIL WITHDRAWS PERMITS fPBBSS 4SBOCI4TION fELEOEAM.) AUCKLAND, December 14. A lively debate arose at a meeting of the City Council when a recommendation was submitted by the Public Safety Committee that permits allowing the use of loud speakers for meetings in Quay street on Sunday afternoons, and in Cobden street, Newton, on Friday evenings, should be withdrawn. The recommendation was adopted, with three dissentient votes.

The Public Safety Committee reported that there were numerous complaints regarding the meetings, which appeared to be aggravated by loud speakers. When the permits were granted in August, they were made conditional on the speakers being operated at a moderate volume, and it was stipulated that in the event of any complaints or objections from bona fide residents in either locality, permits would be immediately discontinued. Mr R. Armstrong asserted that the complaints were inspired, and not volunteered, and that the move to ban the loud speakers was against Communism, and not amplifiers. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr J. A C. Allum) said •the complaints had been so numerous that it was no longer wise to permit the use of loud speakers. The Mayor (Sir Ernest' Davis). advised the withdrawal of an amendment that the attention of the police be called to the nature of the propaganda being circulated at the meetings. “It is outside our sphere of politics,” Sir Ernest said. “It is for the authorities and not the council to take action if it is necessary.” , The Town Clerk’ (Mr J. Mailing) reported that political meetings in the street were not permitted in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Dr. McElroy gave notice of motion that the existing by-laws be amended to bring Auckland’s position into line with the policy adopted by southern cities during the war.