Defiance Of Council Ban Proposed

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31028, 6 April 1966, Page 1

Defiance Of Council Ban Proposed

The Committee to Oppose Royal Tours (C.0.R.T.) intends to hold a public meeting on the river-bank opposite the Canterbury Public Library at 12.30 p.m. tomorrow in defiance of the Christchurch City Council’s refusal to grant permission.

“If the police try to move us we won’t budge,” said the secretary of the committee (Mr Bruce Jesson) last evening. Mr Jesson will be the only speaker tomorrow, but he expects to be supported by some members of his 40strong organisation. He also expects a good deal of public interest.

Last month the by-laws committee of the City Council authorised one such meeting in Latimer square in the evening. C.O.R.T. sought reconsideration, but the by-laws committee on Monday affirmed its decision.

“This meeting on Thursday may be unauthorised but, whatever officialdom’s legal power, it has no right to restrict political expression or deny minorities the chance to present their case in the manner most convenient,” says a statement issued by the committee yesterday Questioned last evening, City Council officials said they believed the police could stop an unauthorised meeting without a complaint by the council. The legal position would be examined today.

A police officer said the police could act without a complaint in such a case.