'Sit-in’ Outside Office

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30763, 29 May 1965, Page 3

'Sit-in’ Outside Office

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 28.

Fourteen demonstrators who maintained a “sit-in” protest outside the Prime Minister’s office this afternoon left Parliament Buildings at 6.45 p.m. of their own accord.

Mr Holyoake had left 15 minutes before.

Members of the group said they had come to protest to Mr Holyoake as head of the

Cabinet. Because Mr Holyoake had left, they should leave too, as they were not going to be told to leave. They told reporters they were there as individuals. They discussed the possibility of leaving two people behind to maintain the vigil, but decided against it. Members of the group appeared relieved to be back on their feet and limbered up before leaving the building. Earlier, one of the group wrestled with two policemen as he tried to enter Parliament Buildings. His way was barred by one policeman and another told him he was not wanted in the buildings. The youth was

forcibly removed through a revolving door. The skirmish was spirited and at one stage a policeman and the youth were in one compartment of the door with the other policeman in another. The youth had his foot wedged in the door to prevent it from revolving. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, discussing the protest group at a news conference, said: “They can stay there as long as they want.” Earlier, he had provided them with newspapers. Mr Holyoake said the sitin technique was fairly new to New Zealand.

“I would have expected a little more originality from New Zealanders,” he said.