THE RIGHT TO THE STREET

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 24 April 1913, Page 6

THE RIGHT TO THE STREET

The New South Wales Minister for Justice (Mr Hall) recently nullified two of the City Council's prosecutions for holding public meetings in the street. One orator, it appears, was fined, and another, who could not pay his fine, was put in prison. But Mr Hall remitted the fine and released the prisoner. It is no wonder, comments the Sydney Daily Telegvaph, that bodies of unionists -care nothing for the law if those in authority either fail to enforce it or nullify the effects of. its enforcement. If the Government believes that the streets arc proper places for holding meeting? in, why does it not take from the City Council the right to frame traffic by-laws u,nd prosecute under thorn? There is no sense in having a law if it is not to be enforced. It has been complained that the prevention or punishment of street speaking is a blow at the liberty of the subject. But what about the liberty of transit to which a crowded way may put an end? Liberty consists in the right to use a thing for i the purpose for which it is meant, and the streets are meant for traffic up and down, and not for schools of oratory or political harangues. Besides, if one thing is allowed to block the streets, why not another? If the holding of _ meetings, why not the holding of paperchases or football matches? It is obvious that if the law is to be respected, remission of its penalties should be a very exceptional thing. With the present Government it seems to have- become a habit.