OPEN-AIR MEETINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 60, 8 September 1934, Page 11

OPEN-AIR MEETINGS

PROHIBITION DISCUSSED LABOUR COUNCIL REGRET The Wellington ' Trades and Labour Council, at a mooting this week, discussed the general attitude being adopted throughout the country, at the instigation of tho Police Department, of preventing citizens holding open-air meetings in the cities. "Some city councils," says a statement from the Trades and Labour Council, "have the courage to permit its citizens to hold meetings and discuss the problems of the day, irrespective of the police; and where that has been done, no disturbance or disorder has taken place. This attack upon the 1 unchallenged right of British citizenship, of some centuries, is creating some considerable discussion, and as this curtailment of freedom is one which will if persisted in result in a general revolt against such unjust and tyrannical, treatment, the council is requesting the Minister of Justice to release the public of this country from tho control of the police." AN AUCKLAND SENTENCE. Tho Trades and Labour Council also reviewed the circumstances of the charges made against several men at Auckland by the police for apparently assembling unlawfully, and the sentence passed upon them by Mr. Wilson, S.M. "These men," the council states, "were sentenced to a term of imprisonment, and two years probation, ordered to be in their homes at 7 p.m., and the police were given the right to enter their homes at any time, day or night. The council is of tho opinion that such sentences, reminding one of the dark ages, or such as are imposed upon bad boys of the present day, Show that the mentality of the Bench is drifting into a channel most dangerous to the people of this country. The council asks that the portion of tho sentence dealing with probation be remitted."