“FOMENTING REBELLION”

Evening Star, Issue 21785, 30 July 1934, Page 11

“FOMENTING REBELLION”

UNREASONABLE FREE SPEECH RESTRICTIONS ECONOMIST SUPPORTS OPEN AGITATION [Put United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 30. “ Those who seek to deny or to restrict unreasonably the right of free speech are on the side of disorder. They are fomenting rebellion. By trying "to stop an agitation which is carried on openly and lawfully they are driving it underground,” said Air H. D. Dickinson at a large meeting held last night to protest against the imprisonment of the men who took part in the “ free speech ” demonstration in the street on July 20. The meeting was organised .by the Labour Defence League, and the audience included several detectives and, constables. Mr Dickinson, who is the exchange lecturer in economics at the University College, said that the right to hold open-air meetings for propaganda purposes was an essential part of the right of free speech as conceded in British communities. The relegation of public meetings to “ hole-and-corner ” places was, in effect, a denial of the right of free speech. Under the recent legislation, any form of criticism of the New Zealand Government by a Civil servant and any advocacy of fundamental change in constitution might be held to be seditious. That law had put men all over the dominion, who held views opposed to those of the party in power, in terror for their positions. The proposed amendment to, the Police. Offences Act, if passed, would render impossible any discussion of political developments. “ Freedom of speech is the only guarantee for the peaceful solution of the social problems which confront the people of this country,” said Mr Dickinson. “ Conditions are not improved by passing Bills . to prevent people from speaking or agitating against conditions which need improvement.”