Protest March In Square

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30710, 27 March 1965, Page 16

Protest March In Square

Twelve men and a woman, headed by the chairman of the Canterbury district branch of the New Zealand Communist Party (Mr J. G. Locke), marched in single file round Cathedral square and down Manchester street to the party headquarters last even-

, ing. They carried placards ' protesting against the use of napalm bombs and gas by . United States troops in Vietnam. > Late night shoppers and others in the Square reacted : as sedately as the protestors marched. Many did not even

pause to look at the placards. The branch secretary (Mr R. G. Hegman) said “the use of napalm and phosphorous bombs and similar horror weapons does not have the support of our New Zealand people.

“We believe that there are very many people from all walks of life and of every political persuasion who wish to dissociate themselves and their organisations from the recent activities of the United States and South Vietnamese armed forces in both South and North Vietnam.”

Union Protest The Canterbury district council of the Federation of Labour this week adopted a resolution condemning the actions of the American forces in Vietnam.

Delegates to the council’s monthly meeting said they were “horrified” that a major power had to revert to using napalm and mincemeat bombs on civilians, including women and children.”