OPEN-AIR MEETINGS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11539, 28 March 1898, Page 3

OPEN-AIR MEETINGS.

The City Council having advertised that in future no meetings would be allowed to be held in the streets or squares unless permits had been first obtained and positions allocated, several meetings were announced to bo held in Cathedral Square on Saturday evening, in defiance of the order. Mr W. Barker took up a stand opposite Mersrs Russell and Willis s office in a spring van, from which the horse had been removed, and from which he gave an address on freedom of speech. He was accompanied by two violinists, who from time to time played selections. ■ Immediately opposite tho main door of the Public Works Office the members of the Socialist Church took their stand with a packing case for a rostrum. At the lamppost- ,in front .of Morten’s -Buildings there was a religious sect withaharmonium, and alongside the Godley statue there was a detachment of the Salvation Army with a brass band. It is understood that although no action was taken on Saturday evening, the City Councillors will consider the position at their meeting to-night. Mr Harker’s address was principally taken up with relating what had been done in England and the colonies when attempts had been made to prevent meetings being held in public places, and he described tho part he had taken in several gatherings of tho kind. He argued that tho municipal franchise should, he extended, on the ground that if the people were comuetent to elect those who had to govern the colony, surely they were still more competent to say who should have charge of municipal matters. Ho concluded by moving—“ That the people of Christchurch, in public meeting assembled, will assert and maintain the right of public meetings and free speech at all costs and at all hazards.” This having been declared carried, ho next moved —“ That we demand from the Government a voice in the election and management of municipal affairs.” This was also carried, and then Mr Harker made way for Mr W. Powell,’ who gave a characteristic address. Mr Harker then called upon the violinists to lead the singing of the National Anthem, but after several attempts this had to be abandoned, and the meeting terminated with “three cheers for Barker.” Mr Harker then addressed Iho Salvation Army and urged the members to resist the interference with their liberties. He afterwards attempted to speak at the meeting of the Socialist Church, but was not allowed to do so.

Tho meeting held under the auspices of the Socialist Church was well attended. No resolutions were moved. Mr Atkinson, in opening tho proceedings, said they were holding their usual meetings, despite the fact that the City Council had forbidden all meetings in the Square unless the Council’s consent had been first obtained. He then gave a short speech on the views of the Socialists with respect to the industrial problem. Mr T. E. Taylor, M.H.R., protested against the attempt of the City Council to prevent meetings being held .in the Square unless tho Council’s permit were first obtained. He denied the Council’s right to interfere with the citizens in the matter of holding meetings whenever they thought fit; the police had power to disperse any gathering which became disorderly, or interfered with traffic, and there was no reason or necessity for this by-law. He knew of only one meeting which had been held in that Square which had been disorderly. He characterised the Council’s by-law as a “tinpot” affair, and said the Council would be serving a better purpose if it turned_ its attention to the work of establishing public abbatoirs. All up and down the country they heard of the spread of tuberculosis aud of the consequent danger to human life, yet the Council seemed to have little inclination to attend to such an important matter, but could find plenty of time to rig up such “tin pot” by-laws as the one he had referred to. (Applause). _ Then such important public services as and the tramways were allowed to remain in the hands of private trading concerns, and no attempt was being made to win them for the people. He ventured to say that, if the franchise were on an adult basis, instead of one representing bricks and mortar only, the Council would never have made the attempt to interfere with tho liberties of the people in the way it had. At the close of Mr Taylor’s speech there was a considerable gathering which cheered him as he left the pedestal. Mr M’Cullough briefly addressed the meeting, and in the course of his remarks quoted figures having reference to the voting power in local elections. He said there were 9200 eligible to vote at parliamentary elections in Christchurch, but only 1947 could vote at elections for the City Council —a franchise, he said, which represented only bricks and mortar and vacant sections.