FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 3 September 1934, Page 2

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

AUCKLAND PROTEST RESOLUTIONS (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND. This Day. A public meeting over which Professor H. Belshaw presided last evening passed resolution expressing the view—(1) That the Auckland City Council bylaw restricting the rights of free speech and free assembly is unduly discriminating in action: (2) that facilities provided for the exercise of these rights should be equally available to all citizens; (3) that the sentences passed on men who participated in the Beresford street protest meeting on 20th July were unnecessarily severe, and the revival of the curfew was humiliating and an improper use of the probation system; and (4) that the Government should not proceed with the proposed ■ legislation embodying in statue form certain war regulations, on the ground that it violates the spirit and principles of British constitutional freedom.

The speakers at the meeting were Mr T. B. Slipper and Professor W. A. Sewell, who said the fight for freedom of speech threatened once again to become tne central struggle of political and social life.