“Hysteria” on arrests
The mass arrest of motorcyclists in Christchurch contained disturbing features and an element of hysteria that had surrounded such groups since the present Government made the term “ban the bikies” a catchcry at the last General Election, the Rev. J. Consedine, chairman of the Christchurch branch of the National Association of Priests, said. “In years past it was a crime to be a Jew, or a Negro; now it’s a crime to be a bikie,” he said.
Also disturbing was the widespread acceptance of the treatment the group received from the authorities.
“No whole group in the community deserves to be labelled or condemned because of the actions of a few. .No group should be shadowed in the vague hope that trouble might result,” said Mr Consedine.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19740104.2.46.7
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33424, 4 January 1974, Page 4
Word Count
130“Hysteria” on arrests Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33424, 4 January 1974, Page 4
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.