THE MOSLEY METHOD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 1 September 1934, Page 4

THE MOSLEY METHOD

DEMOCRACY’S GRAVE DANGERS Writing on “Free Speech and the Law.” in the current “News-Letter,” the National Labour organ, Mr T. J. O’Connor, K.C., M.F., says:—“The Olympia disturbances will have served a. useful purpose if they direct the attention of the Government to a problem which besots democracy with grave dangers. True freedom of speech is essential for the effective working of democracy. The platform still remains incomparably the best and cheapest medium of expression and persuasion, with wireless a fair second. The time is ripe to preserve its value administratively and, if necessary, by legislation. Smashed-up meetings and senseless interruptions are outrages which we have tolerated too long, and it is in the interest of all parties that they should co-operate with the Homo Secretary in drafting the measures he has promised to deal with an admitted and growing evil. How this is to be done is another matter. I am certain that the Mosley method is both wrong and illegal. It is probable that a meeting such as that at Olympia is, in law, an ‘unlawful assembly’ and can be dispersed ; for an unlawful assembly is an assembly of great numbers of persons which from its general appearance and accompanying circumstances is calculated to excite terror, alarm and consternation .... in persons who are endowed with firmness and resolution.’ The fact that the meeting is held to express views which are in themselves lawful does not prevent its being an unlawful assembly if it is held in such circumstances as to alarm ‘firm and courageous persons.’ And a viot occurs when more than three persons are assembled with a common purpose which they have commenced to execute with the intention to use force, if necessary, against any person who may oppose them in the execution of their purpose, provided that they use force so as to alarm one reasonable person.”