MEETING ON OMEGA

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32031, 4 July 1969, Page 10

MEETING ON OMEGA

Ban To Be Ignored

The meeting to protest against the establishment of the Omega navigation station in Canterbury will be held in Victoria Square this evening in spite of the refusal of the City Council to approve it Mr R. A. Hill, president of the Canterbury Trades Council, which is organising the meeting, said that the council held a special meeting yesterday to discuss the City Council’s ban, and it was decided to go ahead with the protest meeting.

Those at the meeting will be able to sign a petition protesting at the establishment of the station. The protesters will then march to the City Council Chambers in Manchester Street, where they hope to present the petition to the Mayor (Mr A. R. Guthrey).

Mr Hill said that Mr Guthrey had declined to be present to receive the petition, but an eSort would be made to find him. If Mr Guthrey was not available the petition would be left at the chambers.

“I don’t think the City. Council should presume that these people are going to commit a breach of any bylaw,” said Cr H. P. Smith, chairman of the by-laws and finance committee, last evening. “If any breach of a relevant by-law is committed the police will report it and the council will consider and decide what action it will take. “The council has a duty towards all the people of Christchurch, both those who wish to protest and those who do not wish to be inconvenienced in their normal Friday night activities,'* he said.