STOPPED BY POLICE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 139, 8 March 1941, Page 13

STOPPED BY POLICE

Speaker At Street Meeting ARREST IN WELLINGTON

To isolated cries of “Give him a fair go,” “AVhere's our freedom of speech,” and “It’s a disgrace,” a man said to be a member of the Christian Pacifist Society was interrupted by two detectives when beginning a public speech in Manners Street, AVellington, last night, and taken to the Taranaki Street Police Station, where a charge was preferred against him. He was released on bail and is to appear in the Magistrates’ Court next Monday morning.

About 100 people, mostly young men, gathered about the speaker who, after quoting some verses from the Bible, began to make reference to the war. lie had not gone far when two detectives approached him. AVhen one of them spoke to him in an undertone, the speaker said loudly, “AVell, we were turned out of the Trades Hall.” The detective asked him whether he intended to go away, whereupon the speaker made another effort to address his gathering. The two detectives then took an arm each and conducted him to the police station.

A group of young men followed and tried to gain entry into the police station. AVhen a detective forbade this, some facetious remarks were made, whereupon the detective suggested that the crowd disperse before they got into trouble. This advice was acted upon.

One member of the audience had upon him a circular which began: “The Christian Pacifist Society invites yon to rally to their public meeting at Trades Hall, Friday, March 7.’’ Later on it stated, “After two police prohibitions and fruitless negotiations with the Government, our public meetings will be resumed at Trades Hall on Friday, March 7, whether prohibited or not.” The last four words were underlined.

No meeting was held in the Trades Hall last night, however, as the caretaker was served with a notice by the police prohibiting it.