Study Of Freedom To Dissent

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32308, 28 May 1970, Page 11

Study Of Freedom To Dissent

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 26. The Justice Department .is trying to find out if the present law places unnecessary restrictions on the individual's freedom to dissent.

This is stated by the Minister of Justice (Mr Riddiford), in a letter read to the Auckland Methodist district synod tonight. The synod wrote to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), in March asking for definitions of the rights and responsibilities of members of the public who wished to demonstrate publicly, and the rights and responsibilities of the police in respect of such demonstrations.

The synod also asked the Prime Minister to define the Government's policy on the carrying of arms by security men or servicemen of a foreign power while on duty in New Zealand.

In his reply, Mr Riddiford said he agreed that freedom of expression was an essential freedom in any democracy, and that the ability to register peaceful dissent was part and parcel of that freedom. “For these reasons,” he said, “1 think the better approach would be to consider whether the present law places unnecessary restrictions on the individual’s freedom to dissent, and to amend the law if this appears to be so. “This is in fact the line of inquiry which I have asked my department to pursue.” Mr Riddiford said the policy on the carrying of arms by the security men or servicemen of a foreign state while on duty in New Zealand would be dealt with by the Minister of Police (Mr Thom-

son), in a separate letter. The, Minister’s letter was received i by members without com-; ment.