STREET MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 6

STREET MEETINGS.

Some members of the Auckland City Council seem to have fallen into tho error of supposing that the Council's discussion on the regulation of street meetings involved the question of the right of free speech. It , did not. The deputation representing religious and propagandist bodies had a good deal to say about the value of street meetings, and it may readily be conceded that a busy corner is a valuable strategic point from which to deliver an argument. No one supposes, however, that freedom of speech is challenged because hustings may not bo erected on the tramway lines. The only question before the City Council is what restrictions should bo placed on street

meetings. The streets are intended primarily for traffic and for the convenience of persons who wish to proceed from one point to another. Speakers and meetings must be regulated and restricted so that they do not interfere with these purposes; apart from that they may be granted a reasonable use of public places. The Mayor did not help to clarify the issue by his remarks concerning " the stuff that has lately been talked and preached at street corners." Citizens of Auckland havo been amazed in recent times at the tolerance extended to printed incitements to lawlessness, but it has not been suggested that every printing press should be stopped ! The Mayor was on safer ground when ho said there was "plenty of room for free speech without using the main streets." In the consideration of its by-laws the City Council should content itself with seeing that street meetings are not allowed to impede traffic and leave sedition and incitements to violence, whether printed or spoken, to be dealt with by the police and the law courts.