No "Hyde Park” On Avon River

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31223, 22 November 1966, Page 18

No "Hyde Park” On Avon River

The City Council last evening did not agree with the Canterbury Council for Civil Liberties that Latimer square had proved unsuitable as a free-speech area similar to Hyde Park corner. The Council for Civil Liberties wrote that Latimer square was too far from the centre of the city and suggested that a central site on the Avon river be set aside. “What this organisation is asking is that the council set aside a place where a number of people will have assembled for other purposes,” the bylaws committee said. "The committee has already expressed the view that these people are entitled to be there without being confronted with demonstrations or addressed.” “The condition of Latimer square is a bit of a hardship in all the circumstances,” Cr. B. J. Britten said. “If we

allowed Victoria square it would not impose a great deal of hardship on the citizens.” There would not be enough room in Victoria square because of the fountain, Cr. M. B. Howard, M.P., said. Victoria square used to be used for demonstrations, Cr. R. M. Macfarlane, M.P., said, but that had been stopped because of damage to the grass and the surroundings. The council had tried to preserve Latimer square for anyone to hold an open-air meeting, and he could not see that the council could go further. He had spoken in Cathedral square, then in Victoria square, said the Mayor (Mr G. Manning). The council had decided that Latimer square was open to anyone to speak on anything so long as it was not seditious or libellous. What was wrong with that? What the council was being asked to do was to provide an audience by giving a place where people congregated. Latimer square gave all the ground that was needed, Mr Manning said. It was close to the centre of the city and open to all. It was available to those who wanted to preach any philosophy, and it was over to them to attract their listeners.