PUBLIC MARCH IN AUCKLAND

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31767, 26 August 1968, Page 22

PUBLIC MARCH IN AUCKLAND

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, August 25.

The Mayor of Auckland (Dr R. G. McElroy) and a numbet of suburban Mayors have agreed to lead a public march in Queen Street at lunchtime on Wednesday in protest over the Russian occupation of Czechoslovakia.

Auckland members of Parliament, church leaders, trade unionists and students and members of the public have also been invited to take part.

In accordance with normal diplomatic procedure it had been arranged earlier for the Russian Minister (Mr Dorofeev) to make an official call on the Mayor on Tuesday morning on his first visit to the city. But on Friday Dr McElroy cancelled this. Mr Dorofeev was also to have addressed a meeting of the New Zealand-U.S.S.R. Society in Auckland on Tuesday night. Today he telephoned the society to say he regretted he was unable to leave Wellington at present. A spokesman for the society said the meeting has been postponed and would probably take place in a few weeks. Member* of Parliament Among Auckland Mayors who have agreed to take part in the march are Mr H. D. Lambie (Manukau, who is also chairman of the Auckland Regional Authority); Mr L. A. Manning (Onehunga); Mr A. F. Thomas (Takapuna); Mr A. C. Crocombe (Birkenhead); Mr R. A. Keeling (Henderson); Mr A. T. Bedingfoeld (Otahuhu); Mr A. T. Bell (Ellerslie); Mr F. G. Turner (Mount Albert); and Dr H. E. A. Moody (Glen Eden). Two Labour members of Parliament, Mr J. L. Hunt (New Lynn) and Mr W. W. Freer (Mount Albert)—will also march.

The president of the Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner) urged trade unionists to take part Mr Skinner said that he would not be able to take

part himself as he was flying to Tokyo on Tuesday morning for an Asian regional conference of the International Labour Organisation. Students Away

The president of the Auckland University Students’ Association (Mr W. T. Rudman) said he would march. He urged all other students to do so.

He pointed out, however, that as it was now the university holidays and many students were away the number of students would probably be small.

“The students’ association has been getting a lot of abusive telephone calls from people asking why we are not protesting about Czechoslovakia when we protest about other things,” Mr Rudman said.

“But we can’t organise anything with so many students away on holiday.”

The marchers will assemble outside the ferry buildings at noon on Wednesday and walk to the Town Hall, where there will be a few short speeches.

Among church representatives who have agreed to attend are the Rev. R. F. Clement, chairman of the Auck land Methodist District, and the Rev. E. G. Bufkle, executive officer of the Diocese of Auckland, who will represent the Anglican Church in the absence of Bishop E. A. Gow ing, who is attending the Lambeth conference. Dr McElroy said on Saturday afternoon that his telephone had not stopped ringing with people supporting him on his telegram to the Russian Minister. At 7.40 p.m., he received an urgent telegram from an unknown man in Tauranga which simply said: “Good on you, sir.”