COMMUNIST MEETINGS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 120, 14 February 1940, Page 7

COMMUNIST MEETINGS

0 Not To Be Allowed On Petone Foreshore A difference of opinion arose among members of the Petone Borough Council last night when an application by the Hutt. Valley branch of the Communist Party for permission to conduct meetings on the Petone foreshore was received. After discussion, it was decided to refuse permission. “I feel that circumstances are such at present that you can do too much speaking,” said the mayor, Mr. G. London, when the application came up for discussion. “'There is too much talking going on at the present time, and if we are going to prosecute this war as it has got to he done, somebody has got to keep quiet.” The police had enough to do as it was. without looking after Communist meetings, said another councillor. There liyd been a tremendous number of unruly meetings in Wellington and other places, because of gatherings of Communists. Cr. W. 11. Edwards said that the Communists should be allowed to conduct their meetings. If the speakers did not conduct their meetings in a proper manner, the police could take action. If the men “spoke out of turn” they would come before the court. They should be granted the right of free speech on the foreshore. Cr. A. M. Maefarlane said that it was a question of protecting citizens against themselves, and against what happened at. these meetings. ‘■What I can’t for the life of me understand is the fanatical worship of those two words ‘free speech,' ” said Cr. J. It. Gaynor. There was not freedom of action, he said. People could not peddle dope, so why should they be allowed to peddle “mental dope.” Times of struggle were ideal for Communists. The mayor moved: “That Communists be debarred from their free speech on Petone foreshore.” The motion was carried, but not without dissent.