IMPRISONMENT OF STRIKERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9834, 27 June 1914, Page 5

IMPRISONMENT OF STRIKERS.

RESOLUTIONS OF PROTEST.

At a meeting of the local branch of the Social Democratic Party this week the following resolutions were carried:

(1) That this meeting protests against the continued imprisonment of the men convicted on various charges connected directly with last year's strike. (2) That. this meeting considers the law of sedition under which Mr H. E. Holland is at present undergoing a term of imprisonment is an obsolete survival of a period when liberty of thought and freedom of speech were not recognised as the acknowledged right of every British subject.; and further it is of the opinion that the enforcing of this law is a serious reflection upon the liberty which is generally supposed to be associated with the British constitution, and that it is highly regrettable that it has been resuscitated in a young democratic country. This mooting therefore calls on the Government of New Zealand to accept the precedent, laid down by the Imperial Government in the cases of Messrs T. Mann and J. Larkin. and release Mr Holland forth- , with.

(3) That this meeting protests most vigorously against the high-handed and autocratic action of the Borough Council of Palmerston N. in their refusal of the use of either band rotunda to the Social Democratic Party, especially as the use of cither is granted to every other body, craft or creed that wishes and requests its use; &nd further is of opinion that in future the party would be justified in using either rorurda should occasion arise, even should the Council then still withhold ?t from use.