MEETINGS IN CITY RESERVES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25329, 31 October 1947, Page 9

MEETINGS IN CITY RESERVES

COMMUNIST CHALLENGE TO COUNCIL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 30. A declaration by the Communist Party that it should stage open air meetings without bothering about obtaining permits in accordance with the City Council’s by-law was commented on to-day by the Mayor (Mr Will Appleton), who said if the council were defied the names would be noted and prosecutions undertaken. The city solicitor had been asked to prepare a special report for a meeting of tne reserves committee on Monday. The position was that if permission were not given by the Town Clerk for the use of reserves for meetings the persons who took part in the meetings would be liable to prosecution, said the Mayor. He considered the by-law perfectly valid and quoted a precedent established by the Auckland City Council concerning the Auckland Domain. A test case was taken to the Supreme Court and the decision was in favour of the Auckland City Council. Claiming that the City Council had taken, through its by-laws, powers of .prohibition and control which it did not possess, Mr W. McAra, Communist candidate for the count T, said Communists would certainly hold an open air demonstration to-morrow evening, weather permitting. ™ Re £ 2rring to the Mayor’s statement, Mr McAra said the Communist Partv had been advised that the council had no lawful jurisdiction and that it was not necessary to seek a permit from tne council. City reserves were public peaces where orderly, peaceful meetings could be held.