Demonstrators Arrested At Council Meeting

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32120, 16 October 1969, Page 1

Demonstrators Arrested At Council Meeting

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, October 15.

Five young persons were arrested by the police at the Auckland Town Hall tonight after a score of demonstrators threw an Auckland City Council meeting into uproar and confusion.

The Mayor (Mr D. M. Robinson) adjourned the meeting for 15 minutes when the shouting protesters refused to leave the chambers.

Jelly beans, streamers, confetti and balloons littered desks and the floor, while most of the Mayor’s desk was taken up by two large cakes and a posy of flow ers.

After clashing with the protesters over their right to speak at the meeting, Mr Robinson gave them two minutes to leave the chambers or be removed. One protester called, “Well folks, who wants to get arrested tonight?” Nobody appeared to be about to leave. There were shouts of “Lies”. “Deceit” and “What kind of democracy is this?” for a couple of minutes before the police entered the chambers and began removing individuals. Within a few minutes the litter-strewn chambers was cleared of the group and the meeting was resumed. The police guarded the Queen Street entrance to the Town Hail to prevent re-entry and: searched the building toj ensure that no intruders re-1 mained inside. About a dozen protesters,! who wished to be heard on. the issue of free speech ini Albert Park, were present 5 when the meeting started at. 7 p.m. They remained seated' when everyone else stood for the Mayor to enter the chamber.

The group increased to about a score while Mr J. Shennan. who had earlier been granted permission to present submissions on free speech, stated his case. The bearded Mr Shennan, dressed in clothes which resembled a set of long pink underwear, and wearing an armband emblazoned with the word “Vietnam”, asked the council to examine its bylaws regarding free speech in the city. Speaking, he said, as an individual and secretary of the now-defunct Auckland Free Speech Committee, Mr Shennan invited the Mayor and council to visit Albert Park one Sunday afternoon to sing and dance. He presented the Mayor with a large placard of invitation Other placards were displayed by the group.

Mr Robinson asked several ■ of the group to resume their ' seats, as they wandered about doling out handfuls of jelly- ' beans and balloons to members of the council and placing the cakes and flowers on the Mayor’s desk. He made a similar request a few moments later when others started winding streamers along the backs of councillors’ chairs. When Mr Shennan finished, speaking a group moved forward to take his place, but; they were stopped by Mr Rob-,

inson, who ruled they had no right to speak. “We have,” said one. “We were told that two people would be allowed to speak. Why don't you let us speak?” Mr Robinson said the deputation had been heard and no further speakers would be allowed. He told the group to return to their seats, but they continued to move about. ’ One or two sat on the floor in the middle of the council chambers when he asked the group to leave, but they got up and left with the others when police moved in. Most of the councillors sat impassively at their desks during the disturbance, before the Mayor adjourned the meeting. Those arrested, including one young woman, were aged

between 18 and 24. Four of them were charged with behaving in a disorderly manner and one of the four was also charged with wilful trespass. A fifth person was charged with wilful trespass. All five people will appear in the Auckland Magistrate's Court tomorrow.