INTOLERANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 111, 6 November 1935, Page 26

INTOLERANCE

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Every elector in New Zealand is allowed to vote, to think, to speak, and to act, so long as he keeps within the law, and within the bounds of common decency. The only human activity or privilege which is too frequently denied to us, is the right to listen to candidates for Parliament who are opposed to Labour. I personally wish to hear what the city Government candidates have to say, but a friend who attended Mr. Toogood's last meeting tplls me that hecklers and interrupters did their best to howl him down, so that many people in the vicinity of this noisy element were prevented from hearing what the speaker said. Fortunately the gentlemen standing in the National interests are able to express their strong views in equally virile voices, and are capable, of dealing effectively with opponents; incidenitaliy they will be a valuable acquisition, to the debating strength of the House. But it is high time that steps were taken to prevent rowdyism. Is there no power to eject senseless individuals who deliberately upset public meetings? Mr. Toogood is an able and interesting speaker, capable" of looking after himself; but are the general public to \rt up with the sustained heckling at public meetings?—l am, etc., DECENCY.