Speaker urges counter-protest

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32941, 13 June 1972, Page 21

Speaker urges counter-protest

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 12. If members of loyal organisations such as the Homeservicemen’s Association attended the opening of Parliament, it would show the public that not all those present belonged to the type that came along to protest, demonstrate, and disrupt, said the newly installed Speaker of the House (Mr A. E. Allen) yesterday.

Speaking at the convention of the northern district of the Homeservicemen’s Association, Mr Allen said that such loyal organisations were needed today.

The homeservicemen had not had the honour of fighting in the front line in war, but had the enemy landed here they would have been prepared to lay down their lives for New Zealand, he said. “It is a pity that you do not parade at Parliament Buildings to show the other side of the story.”

He said that should the! demonstrators get out of I hand, the homeservicemen j could assist the police. He did not suggest that! that was necessary at the! opening of Parliament last week, but there could come a time when the police could not handle a situation unaided. Mr Allen emphasised that it was not just the job of the Government to correct this type of thing—it was also the job of the individual to influence the young in the home and at school against such behaviour. But he made it clear that he was not advocating that people should take the law into their own hands. Neither was he expressing other than his own views, he said. Mr Allen said he had nothing against peaceful demonstrations but drew the line at objects being hurled at

representatives of the Queen, as happened outside Parliament, or the treatment accorded Mr McCready at the University of Auckland last week.

“TIME FOR FIRMNESS” When people started hurling things about it was time to take firm action, he said.

Great care would have to be taken with the composition of special groups to help the police and with the! manner in which they acted. The lessons learned from police specials in Auckland during World War I would have to be carefully observed, said Mr Allen.

“The people can make their i own choice. Are they going to let this noisy, scruffy minority dominate, or is the country going to be run by decent people, or people obeying the orders of decent people?” VIEW SUPPORTED

The president of the National Socialist Party (Mr King Ansell) said his party "can’t support strongly enough” the measures sug-

gested by Mr Allen to deal with demonstrators. Especially the idea of a special police force should be encouraged. “Too strong measures against demonstrators cannot be taken,” said Mr Ansell.