FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Evening Star, Issue 21581, 29 November 1933, Page 8

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

A DEPUTATION'S DEMAND MINISTER DEFENDS THE POLICE [Per Uxited Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 29. Freedom of speech and assemblage, the removal of the ban on working class literature, and the release of all prisoners imprisoned for offences arising out of the activities of the working class were among the requests to the Hon. J. G. Cobbe by a deputation of the National Unemployed Workers’ Movement. A complaint was made by Mr L. Sim of the action of the police in preventing a meeting at Palmerston North after permission had been given for a workers’ assemblage to be held in regard to tho specific case of one Ivan Tomascvic. A speaker in the course of his representations said: " We demand the right of trial by a jury.” Mr Cobbe asked: “ Why use that expression we demand? Can’t you make out a decent case by argument?” Mr Sim said: “ I demand freedom of speech on behalf of all the working class.” Mr Cobbe: “ You are certainly enjoying it now.” He added that freedom of speech was capable of a wide interpretation, and some people regarded it as the means of inciting others to violence. Replying to the representations, Mr Cobbe said lie had arranged for a meeting place to be provided in Palmerston North, but tho workers wanted to hold a procession in the square and interfere with business. Mr Cobbe recalled what happened in Auckland and Wellington, and said: “ We are not going to have that sort of thing again. . It’s no good you talking about the police being the source of the trouble. They carry out their duties fairly and well, and don’t take action unless people interfere with the freedom of others.”