PERMITS NOT OBTAINED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22030, 9 February 1935, Page 18

PERMITS NOT OBTAINED

OPEN-AIR MEETINGS POLICE COURT SEQUELS "There can be now no excuse for uncertainty about the necessity of obtaining permits from the City Council for the holding of public meetings in the streets or parks," said Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, when several defendants were charged with holding meetings and tak- ' ing part in processions without permits. The charges had been originally heard several months ago, but had been adjourned pending the hearing of an appeal which proved unsuccessful. James Henry Edwards and James H. Bracewell were charged with holding a meeting in Quay Street West without a permit on October 21. Edwards explained that he had understood the adoption by the City Council of certain places for the holding of open-air public meetings meant that so long as the meetings were orderly and notning contravening sedition or -blasphemy laws was said there could be no objection to holding such meetings. The " council had made no complaint about meetings being held without permits and he considered that it was the police department that was making obstructidn. Edwards alleged that the police had stopped a recent meeting for which a permit had been: received from the City Council. ' Mr. McKean asked on what grounds the police- had prevented the meeting and on being told that the police had not stated the grounds said he was sure the meeting would not have been stopped unless there had b«jen a breach of some other law. The magistrate said the validity or the bv-law was now unquestionable, but as" the offences had occurred some months ago, and the meetings had been orderly, he would impose no penalties. Edwards and Bracewell were convicted and discharged. Similar action was taken by the magistrate when Roderick F. Rowlands, and Percy Fowler were charged with holding meetings at various places without permits. Thomas Stanley, Lewis W r illiams and Francis M. Martinovich were all convicted and discharged on a charge of taking part in a procession in Queen Street on September 15 with-out-a permit.