FREE SPEECH REQUEST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 291, 6 November 1934, Page 10

FREE SPEECH REQUEST.

DEPUTATION TO CITY COUNCIL.

A deputation, consisting of Messrs R. Lee and F. Lee, waited on the Palmerston North City Council last evening asking that a place be set aside in the city where all and suudry might speak on any subject without having to obtain the prior permission of the council.

Mr F. Lee said it could not be denied that there was a restriction on free speech in so' far as a permit had to be obtained to speak. It was requested that a certain place be set aside, for those who wished to air their views on any matter. It was a fundamental right of the British people to say what they desired. Mr R. Lee supported the request. He said that there were other organisations which did not have to apply for permission to speak as did the Communist Party.

The Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) pointed out that permission had been granted the other bodies. He asked if free speech were allowed in Russia, the reply to be “Yes’’ or No.” Mr R. Lee said he was not prepared to answer either in the negative or the affirmative. He would say, however, that there was not free speech in Palmerston North.

Ci- J. Hodgens askecl what the Communist Party found objectionable in the present restrictions? It was not as bad as that, said Mr R. Lee. There was a restriction, however, on the working class generally. An application had to bo made every time at present. Cr W. B. Cameron asked if the deputation would be satisfied if the same position were in operation as at Dunedin—which would mean that the place set aside would be some distance from the business section of the city. In Dunedin, Museum Park was at least a mile and a half from the Octagon. Mr F. Lee said lie anticipated that the council would be allocating a site in a reasonable position, and not, say, out at Ashhurst. Cr AV. B. Tennent said the council had considered allocating the hand rotunda in the Square, but it was not available at all times, owing to agreements with other bodies. Would the Sportsground be suitable? he asked. Mr F. Lee said they were mainly concerned with the lifting of the permit system, and obtaining a reasonably central site. They preferred the locality by the cannon in that section of the Square near the Post Office. The Mayor said ho knew that the council would consider the matter carefully. It had already considered the question of allowing free speech at the Sportsground or not, and it had been thought that speaking at the band rotunda would be more in line with the wishes of the speakers. Subsequently Mr F. Lee sought leave to refer to the question of free speech in Russia, which he said had been raised by the Mayor. The Mayor intimated that the whole subject was settled and he advised the speaker, if he wished his representations to be considered, to abide by the rules governing the reception of deputations. , , - ~ Mr Lee continued to press for the issue to be discussed and issued a challenge to a public debate on the quesCr G. Tremaine moved that the council proceed with the next business. The deputation then withdrew. The council will discuss the matter at the next meeting of the works committee.