A veteran protester’s views

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32406, 19 September 1970, Page 12

A veteran protester’s views

Many of the people who demonstrate are extremely reluctant to do so, according to Christchurch author, Mrs Elsie Locke, who has taken part in demonstrations in Christchurch and elsewhere in New Zealand for 37 years. Some people who were loath to take part in protest only did so because they felt so strongly about important issues, she said.

“A big part of a demonstration is the discussion and argument that goes on among those taking part," Mrs Locke added. "People have varying opinions, and an exchange of these is an extremely broadening experience. Mrs Locke is opposed to violence, and considers it does not achieve anything. The painting of signs and slogans on buildings might be a means of letting off steam, but they antagonise the public and cost a lot of money to remove, she maintains. As a participator, Mrs Locke has no doubts over the advantages of appointing marshals to control demonstrations, but she points out that often protest organisers do not know whether 50 or 500 people will turn up, and sometimes a demonstration is quite spontaneous, or called at short notice. Mrs Locke considers there are clear responsibilities on those who organise demonstrations. In well organised protests, leaflets are issued and banners checked. Street problems But she also admits there can be problems of communication in that people taking part in a march do not know how the leaders are reacting to any unexpected problem, especially in confined streets .where marshalls cannot move freely.

“I was at the Friday night protest in Wellington before the All Blacks left for South Africa,” Mrs Locke said. “Feelings were strong and enthusiasm was marvellous; the demonstrators were mostly young and did not want to leave off.” Of the rights of the demonstrator, Mrs Locke says that if issues are looked at in the context of the general social situation, then there is a pressing need for action. “People who demonstrate do so on issues they feel demand urgency,” she said. On the question of the right of the citizen to free movement, compared with the right of people to demonstrate, Mrs Locke does not see how it is possible to reconcile the two. “I would say the social issue must predominate,” she says. But there is a danger that the effect on the public will diminish by too frequent protests and it can be wiser sometimes to refrain. Relevant here are the message to be conveyed, and the circumstances. “On occasions I would break the law if necessary, but I would have to feel it is

important enough to break the law,” Mrs Locke says. As to the police, she considers that in adopting a lowkey approach they “see the writing on the wall.” If the police are aggressive and obstructive, then people will react in a similiar way. She does not feel the City Council should restrict demonstrators by telling them where they can march and demonstrate. Protesters should not trample garden plots, and there should be no vandalism, but Mrs Locke feels that it is just not the council’s business to stop demonstrators from marching through the centre of the city. There is of course the problem of movement of traffic, and demonstrators should inform authorities of times and proposed route. As to the place of protest in the future, Mrs Locke sees some issues as too urgently awaiting solution to wait for the slow processes of discussion and debate. They need to be constantly placed before the public, and the Government, because Parliamentary process is not as concerned with change as many people would like to think. And Mb Locke also makes the point that the unemployed in New Zealand in 1930-35 would never have achieved the measure of relief they did had it not been for demonstrations. As a women, never afraid to protest for a cause she believed in, she can recall demonstrating in Wellington against the import of Japanese goods because of Japan’s invasion of China. And in subsequent Court action, the Magistrate, in dismissing the charge of holding a procession without a permit, delivered some straight words to the Police on the mis use of by-laws. It is worth remembering, she adds, that the majority of the people can be unaware or indifferent to important public issues.