CASTING VOTE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20631, 12 August 1941, Page 4

CASTING VOTE

APPLICATION DECLINED USE OF TOWN HALL AID-TO-RUSSIA GROUP (Per Press Association.) MJCKL-AND, this day. After a discussion lasting nearly an hour and a half the City Council, at a special meeting, decided on the casting vote of the Mayor, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, to decline an application by Mi - . R. Armstrong as convenor of the Aid-to-Russia Committee for the use of the Auckland Town Hall for the purpose of holding a public meeting celebrating the signing of the pact between Great Britain and the Soviet Union and extending the cordial greetings of citizens. Eighteen of the 21 members of the council were present. The Mayor explained the circumstances leading to the present position, including the making of an earlier application for the use of the hall, which was withheld. He referred to remarks made when a deputation was received by the council on July 31. He said there had been a lot said that clouded the real issue. There was no question of freedom of speech. That had been exercised without interference from the council, nor was there any question of aid to Russia, as that was obviously being given, while there could be no question of party politics in this matter. Question of Public Inin rest The question was as to whether it was in the public interest to let the Town Hall to a certain person or body of persons. A request from a body such as the Labour Party ensured responsibility of action. It was, however, the duty of the council not to let the hall when there was reason to believe that there might be disorder, or grave public disapproval. “The evidence and the surrounding circumstances satisfy me that a proper sense of responsibility is lacking and that there is close association with the Communist Party,” said Mr. Allum. “In my opinion the real object is to take advantage of a fortuitous opportunity to advance the interests of communism. This. I believe, will certainly be resented by a very large section of our citizens. It is my duty as Mayor to place before the council the facts as I see them and to give a lead. Whether the council accepts that lead will depend upon the judgment of .individual councillors. Mayor’s Decided View “I am satisfied it is not in the public interest to grant the application and I move that it be declined.” Mr. C. J. Garland said that if the Government had not thought fit to suppress or prohibit communism it was not the function of a lccal body to take that duty upon itself. Mr. Armstrong was not a Communist, but they were not very much impressed by his contribution to the war effort. Miss E. Melville said that so far as she was aware these people were responsible and she did not know that it had been the practice in the past to refuse the the use of the hall because they did not agree with the views of the people asking for it. The danger of a breach of the peace arising from statements that might be made was so remote that they did not need to take notice of it. Orderly Conduct Mr. F. N. Ambler said that any citizen or body of citizens had a perfect right to the use of the hall, provided no subversive statements were made and the meeting was conducted in an orderly manner. “I think that this is the Communist Party under a cloak and that they want to put forward their views,” said Mr. F. G. Farrell. Freedom of speech would not be impaired if the application were declined, said Mr. A. C. Brown. By granting the request they would do violence to the feelings of a great many people in the community. The Mayor said there seemed still to be misunderstanding. He was satisfied on the evidence that, as far as the application was concerned, a proper sense of responsibility was lacking. When the motion that the application be declined was put the division showed there were nine votes for and nine votes against the motion and the Mayor gave his casting vote for the resolution.

Mr. Garland left the meeting before the division was taken.