Mt John incidents deplored by league

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32873, 23 March 1972, Page 14

Mt John incidents deplored by league

Strong condemnation of the recent demonstration at Mount John and support for the police was voiced during a long discussion on the demonstration at a meeting of the Canterbury Progress League last evening.

Referring to the “scandalous” and “criminal” behaviour of demonstrators at Mount John, Mr A. A. Mackintosh said many people had said to him that someone should speak up and seek more support for the police.

No-one had the right to do what the demonstrators had done at Mount John, he said. “To my mind there is nothing for this but the birch.” Mr Mackintosh said he thought the league should ask the Minister of Police to give more power to his men to curb such behaviour.

“These people are wreckers, and criminals let loose. Until the police are given power to curb them, this is going to get worse. By the time the Commonwealth Games are held here there will be more than stones and Molotov cocktails thrown,” he said. Mr J. H. Higgins seconded the motion. "Inis business of allowing students and young people to get out and goad the police so they can get publicity must be stopped, he said. ‘FAIR GO* There had been only a few firebrands at Mount John — the police had wanted to give them a “fair go” but were badly let down. “If we allow these people to go on this way, I can see us having the same problems as they have in Northern Ireland.” Mr A C. Maddock said while he deplored what had happened at Mount John, he did not agree with increasing the power of the police. “Harsh treatment has never stopped violence; we must find the cause." Dr I. D. Blair said the topic was not one on which the league should take such action as was suggested. He deplored some of the statements expressed in putting forward the motion. The president (Mr D. B. Rich) said he would be the last to suggest that any de-

monstration should be in any way inhibited provided those involved respected the rights and property of others. The Mount John demonstration did not meet this criterion. SOME “USED”

He suggested that those involved were “university dropouts” rather than students.

Many were from outside Christchurch and some had support from “outside this country.” Some of the demonstrators

had been sincere, but they had been used. “We certainly do not want to see the situation as it is overseas, where the right to protest is being used as an excuse for violence and hooliganism.”

Some of the demonstrators were looking for confrontation, and they received publicity from the news media which was out of proportion and “fed” the people who caused the trouble, Mr Rich said. Mr Mackintosh said he would not deny anyone the right to protest in an orderly manner.

A suggestion by Mr R. T. Shiels that legislation should

require that vandals work to pay for any damage they did was not proceeded with. The meeting passed, on voices, a motion that power be given to the police to curb such disturbances as the Mount John demonstration, but the matter was later reopened, and the motion lapsed. It was then successfully moved that the league condemn such actions as occurred at Mount John, and pledge any support to the police and the Minister of Police in the implementation of the law for the proper enforcement of law and order.