LIBERTY OR LICENSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue XXI, 2 April 1884, Page 3

LIBERTY OR LICENSE.

■ TO iiiS SDIXCBi • Sib,—lt is evident that sonia of your ia» ?. fprmants, with- reference to the new' of the City.Council, axe-.endeavouring .-to. C foster a-feeling of antagonism, not to liberty, but to .license, - because . there is time, enough to cry out when cause is shown of. liberties being' in danger; and I think there is very little real cause to imply that those .who conscientiously. believe and practice street preaching will be, o» were to ■ be, interfered with. /Who haa any remembrance of seeing or hearing of any complaints arising therefrom? and it iB hardly probable tiie police would act in an arbitrary manner -r-they are not prone to make -themselves unpopular on that score. ■ The following bylaw, passed eleven years since, if enforced could have dealt with street preaching, ,if there had been any desire to do so " Any person or persons who shall, by loitering, standing, or in any other manner whatsoever, • obstruct or encumber any public place, or thoroughfare, pavement, or footpath within the Borough of Auckland, to the inco&t venience, annoyance, detriment, or dangep of passengers or persons, after having been:';, requested by a constable, or police officer, to move on, and to cease loitering, standing,-obstructing,'or-encumbering, shall for every such olience forfeit and pay- a sum not exceeding five pounds." Or, had the desire been to interfere with the Salvation Army, the following. section of By-law No. 6, originally copied from the Municipal Police. Act, and passed in _ January, 1872, : twielye" ~ years, in operation, could have -applied_ " Any person, jripging a., brdl ;or bells, oir" : blowing aiiy trumpet or horn,, or beating any drum, or tambourine, or gong in any Btreetor public place within the City Auckland, for-, tjhe purpose of crying or calling any matter or' thing whatsoever/' Yet lam not ; aw&rei •... that those who have taken an active part in • this movement have had any reason to com- -" i plain. The new by-law is in operation in Christchurch city, where there is a deal of ... qtreetr. preaching,'yet we hear of no sensational action on the part of the public. It is somewhat strange that this by-law, advertised in roll .last December, but not con- , firmed until the present month, should have - atU'acted""no attention. I bopej-"-however,'- - that theannecasaary - foas' that haa been • made may do some, good; to the cause, for I think the by-law will «lo little harm, and it has rather served a prurpose in the present instance.—l am, &c., Ad Cap^