HUNTLY MAKES MORE HISTORY.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 42, 22 December 1911, Page 13

HUNTLY MAKES MORE HISTORY.

Commercial Despotism versus Social

and Industrial Democracy.

HUNTLY TOWN BOARD BY-LAW

Clause 16. —No person shall in or Bear any street, private street, footpath, footway, or public place, by singings playing any musical instrument, preaching, reading,, speaking, lecturing, Belling or crying wares, exhibit any object or thing, or causing or allowing the doing of any of the aforesaid things, or by any other means whatever cause the collecting and assembling of persons whereby such street or public place or any neighboring street, private street, footpath, or footway i$ obstructed, disturbed or hindered, or whereby access to any house or building in or near any street, private etreet, or public place is obstructed. Clause 17. —No person shall in any etreet, private street, footpath or footway, preach, read, lecture, sell or cry Any wares, or any object or thing, or make any noise or any loud sounds, or cause or by conduct invite others to do any of the aforesaid acts, whereby the peace and quiet of any person residing in or using or being in any neighbouring house or building is disturbed, or whereby the proceedings of any congregation, assemblage, or meeting is disturbed or annoyance is caused to any person attending any such congregation, assemblage or meeting. The times we live in ! On December 10, 1911, Huntly people were destined to witness a magnificent protest. The northern mining township has been on the upward march lately: the people have imbibed the new spirit for the new morrow. While the people were reading, and thinking, speaking and learning, the city fathers wore active, busily scheming and building dams with which to stom ttie rising proletarian tide. A most comprehensive bylaw was passed. Mr. Butler, of the Presbyterian Church, got scent of the plans, and his efforts culminated m puttin"- the whole township on the alert and a mass protest meeting was called for Sunday evenhuz.

Never in the history of Huntly has there been such an enthusiastic meetin rr never before have the pepoie rala ' on December 10. The meeting was at 8 p.m.., and previous to that hour three churches—Methodist, Presbyterian, and Christian Brethren—passed resolutions condemning the by-law, which the Town Board has passed and intend, to confirm. The Socialists had a record gatherat the log, when T. H. Marshall, President Miners' Union, took the chair. Olive Schreiner tells the story of & painter who painted a most impressive picture. While he painted the onlookers wondered where the rich colour came from. The painter died, and they found a. deep scar upon his breast, and they said: "Where did tho colour come from? , "

The Chairman said that the meeting had been called to protest against the proposed by-law. He read the clauses ■which particularly infringe upon the people's liberty. He said he wovild not tolerate such a law, and was prepared to go to prison if need be. If the Town Board decided to make a criminal of him they must abide by the consequences. He would speak, although hell should yawn at his feet. «ETi* history had been clean, and he

challenged contradictions. He had always been a law-abiding citizen, but he assured them that he would defend the liberty of free speech at all costs. Mr. Butler, who recently took Mills' ."Struggle for Existence" into the pulpit and preached a sermon thereon, said that the various institutions of the people had met to hold together in the fight for free speech. He said that the large audience, unprecedented for number, gave ample evidence of the interest the people have in the matter. He moved: "That this meeting of citizens enters its emphatic protest against the action of the Town. Board in passing a, by-law to prevent street speaking, such, by-law being an infringement of the liberties of the people and an attempt to prevent free speech and discussion upon the social and economic problems of the day ; and, furthermore, we, the citizens of Huntly, challenge the members of the Town Board to resign and re-contest <• the seats, and thus test ifche feeling of the people upon the matter." Although the by-law had been passed on November 30, the public had not received notice until after the election. He ventured to saj r that this had been deliberately done. Had the people known the truth of things, the Huntly Hotel would have been doomed. The Town Board was straightout against the Socialist Party. Mr. J. E. Duncan, union secretary, seconded the motion. He eaid that to his mind everything was clear. Mr. Harris, the hotelkeeper, was president of the Board, just as Pierpont Morgan was president of the.TJnited States. The Town Board comprised the Huntly autocrat—(' 'Harristocrat,'' someone said). He thought thajb .the mining directors of Huntly were behind the scheme, because of the great advance of the Socialist Party of late. The little liberty the workers had was to raise profits and look for a job-mas-ter. The people were now coming to deal with the powers that were keeping them under. He was prepared to go to prison, and he assured them that there were many comrades from the North Cape to the Bluff who would come to the stump in Huntty and fight for the liberty of free speech. Mr. H. J. Beck said that whenever the by-law was confirmed he would be on the step of the Town Board office and deliver a speech, and test the situation.

Mr. Nicholls, of the Wesleyan Church, said he failed to see the Huntly streets the Town Board spoke of. The workers had to fight for all they had got, and they assured the Town Board that they would fight for the liberty of free speech. Messrs. Sheehan, Saunders, and Hughes condemned the oppressive bylaw in round terms.

The motion was carried unanimously, amid cheers. The chairman invited anyone to speak in defence of the hylaw, but no one appeared. The members of the Town. Board do not avail themselves of the opportunity of addressing people from the stump. We must conclude that they have no interests but conservative interests ; no mission, nothing to tell the people; nothing to brighten the sadly blighted lives of oppressed humanity. But to the meeting of the people. The rich glow of their painting—the battle for the breath of existence.

Where, where did they get the colour?—BlLLY BANJO.