OFFER TO COMMUNISTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 36, 12 February 1940, Page 6

OFFER TO COMMUNISTS

(To the Editor.)

Sir.—l suggest that the Government and the City Councils grant to Communists and their supporters, including many pacifists, just as much "freedom of speech" and liberty to hold public street meetings and demonstrations as would be granted in Moscow to those opposing Government defence policy. What could be fairer than that? The Communists should accept Soviet standards .of liberty.—l am, etc., SQUARE DEAL. Another correspondent ("Pro Justice") draws attention to the cable message from London headed "Meetings in Britain," "Same Treatment For All," in which Sir John Anderson stated that much as one might deplore interruptions at meetings addressed by Cabinet Ministers,, under the law of Britain they were the same as other meetings and no greater protection could be given to Cabinet Ministers than to other speakers. "Ever since New Zealand's entry into the war, states the correspondent, "it has been stressed by our leaders that New Zealand's war policy must be in keeping with that of Britain, who gives^fhe lead to the whole Empire;" 'Pro Justice" refers to the recent meeting in Wellington and concludes: "I suggest that the attention of the Minister of Justice, the Mayor, and the City Council, be drawn to your report of Sir John's statement, and that they reinstate fair play within this city Jjy handling all meetings in the way they are being handled in Bntain~-that is by permitting free speech for all, with no partiality towards special office holders of city or State,"