MEETINGS IN STREETS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21507, 2 June 1933, Page 11

MEETINGS IN STREETS

COUNCIL AND TOLICE FURTHER CONSULTATIONS QUESTION OF JURISDICTION The respective rights of tho City Council and the police to decide whether street meetings shall be held in the city were discussed at tho meeting of the City Council last evening. Reporting upon a request by a deputation of unemployed that Quay Street and Howe Street should be made available for meetings in lieu of Victoria Park, the Legal and By-laws Committee stated it had referred the matter of street meetings to the Mayor, in order that ho might confer with tho Commissioner of Police, Mr. W. G. AVohlniann. it promised to report further to the council in due course. Mr. T. Bloodworth moved as an amendment that the deputation's request should be granted. He strongly objected to the suggestion that tho council should submit to the will of tho polico in tho matter and ho saw no necessity for consultation. Mr. E. F. Andrews said the Commissioner of Police had told a Labour deputation in Wellington that a municipality had full power to permit or prohibit street meetings, and ho was surprised at the attitude tho Auckland City Council had taken up. 'I ho Mayor, Mr.' G. W. Hutchison, said he luul been told of the commissioner's alleged statement, but it did not agree with what the commissioner had said to him, and the Auckland police officials also took a contrary view. The council would do well to defer a decision; there would bo ample opportunity to reconsider its policy later. •Mr. Bloodworth withdrew his amendment and tho recommendation was adopted. The committee submitted a report by the chief traffic inspector, Mr. G. R. Hogan, who pointed out that the council had no by-laws dealing specifically with the issue of permits for street processions or for meetings in streets and public plac«s. He recommended that it be made an offence under tho by-laws for any person to organise, direct or participate in any such procession or meeting not previously authorised by a permit under the hand of the Mayor. The committee recommended that tho city solicitor bo directed to prepare a by-law on these lines, but it was decided to refer the report back for further consideration.