Police actions at demonstrations

Press, 29 August 1979, Page 20

Police actions at demonstrations

Sir, — Readers of Orwell’s “1984” will recall the Thought Police who filmed everybody; one could not be sure when they were watching and when they were not. Covert filming at the Town Hall demonstration raises awkward questions. Could there be the suspicion of a party political manoeuvre? Would the film form part of a record which, as we know from the Wanganui computer, is difficult to safeguard? Is it feasible to suggest as you do, that demonstrators should videotape their own demonstrations? Does not film have a spurious veracity since so much depends on the subject and the context? It is surely important to remember that peaceful demonstration is a legitimate and necessary part of our political culture. Anti-nuclear demonstrators, for example, alerted us to dangers which were later substantiated in the Three Mile Island disaster. Our liberties are not so numerous that we can afford to surrender them easily. — Yours, etc., LUKE TRAINOR. August 27, 1979. Sir, — Even Mr Twentyman must be aware that if freedom to protest against such an unpopular, uncaring Government as the present National Government is to continue in a country as democratic as New Zealand, then maybe it is time policemen merely looked the other way instead of using preventive methods of “crime” control such as hidden cameras or inefficient barriers such as those which were erected at the Town Hall; barriers which are not only ugly but are bound to rouse scorn and contempt towards any attempts to keep law and order. The National Party was in danger from maybe a well thrown custard pie? — Yours, etc., ROSIE WITTY. August 27, 1979.