Demonstrations Against Nuclear War Considered

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28539, 19 March 1958, Page 7

Demonstrations Against Nuclear War Considered

Demonstrations protesting against nuclear warfare, similar to those staged in Britain, may be seen in the streets of Christchurch, within the next few months. Several men and women have offered to be “starters” in demonstrations and street parades. At the Friends Meeting House last evening about 80 persons met who felt that they wanted to contribute something, if possible, towards nuclear disarmament. Among them were university lecturers, housewives, ministers of religion, students, doctors, members of trade unions and a scientist. “Lead Parade” A cry of, “I will lead a parade through the streets and get picked up by the police. It is necessary to get the people to realise what tension and fear we are living in today” brought, “I second that,” from several enthusiastic followers. Such explanations came after an address by a senior lecturer in economics at the University of Canterbury (Mr G. M. Miller), on movements for nuclear disarmament in New Zealand and Britain. He referred to the British White Paper on defence and also to the visit last September of Mr Duncan Sandys. then British Minister of Defence. “Why did he go straight to visit the governors of Hong Kong and Singapore after his visit to Australia and New Zealand? it wasn’t to ask after their health.” said Mr Miller. “Singapore and Hong Kong could be strategic points if Britain needed any around the Pacific, since Malaya has declined to have bases or any nuclear weapons on its soil.” At the end of Mr Miller’s address, a member of the audience rose and said: “We have a new Government, which has not yet

definitely defined its foreign policy and, therefore, could be influenced, to some extent, by public opinion.” The possibility of staging another international affairs convention, similar to the one staged in 1955, was discussed. Several members said that the displays and lectures which would have to be given would be of more interest to the intellectual than to the ordinary man. “It is not the old intellectual we want to get at and try to scare; it is the young layman, who does not realise what international tension is gathering and the fear the whole world is living under," said an elderly member. No Hyde Park A young housewife said that members should go into the workshops and factories and try to explain the position about nuclear warfare. It was a shame that Christchurch did not have a Hyde Park, where everybody was free to speak, instead of having to apply to the City Council for permission “to address a little gathering.” Several proposals for ways to get support for the termination of all tests, as a beginning, were put forward to be considered by a committee of 13. “If Britain or the United States decided to test their bombs at Burnham or Waiouru, instead of in the middle of the ocean, then I think the New Zealanders would wake up and realise in what a critical period they are living,” said a member.

At the end of the meeting, which was under the chairmanship of the Rev, A. A. Brash, the committee was requested to look into the matters brought before it. The meeting called itself the “Organisation against Nuclear Warfare."