ANOTHER PROTEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9961, 3 May 1918, Page 3

ANOTHER PROTEST

REFUSAL TO LET TOWN HALL LABOUR DEPUTATION TO CITY COUNCIL. A matter which catisod a great amount of discussion recently was re-introduc-ed last evening when a deputation representing the Wellington trades unions waited on the City Council .to protest against tho refusal of the finance committee to -grant, the Town Hall for a public mooting to .protest against the prolongationof Parliament.

The spokesman was Air A. ParlamJ (president of tho Trades and Labour Council), who road a resolution passed at a public meeting in tho King’s Theatre on April 21st last. Air Pailand said that the body h© represented looked at the matter in a very serious light. When thousands of their kinsmen wero away fighting for freedom, it was' their duty to do their part with regard to British free speech and fair play. The refusal of tho Town Hall was a gross violation of tho best British traditions. Tho purpose of the meeting was to discuss a most important question, namely, the proposal of Parliament to prolong it« own life. There was not the slightest reason to suppose that the meeting would not be an orderly one, conducted on proper lines in conformity with the rules of public meetings. The refusal of the l Town Hall was a gross reoction on the public of Wellington, who wero. wrongfully deprived of it he opportunity of discussing a public question. In a democratic country the fullest -scope should ho given for tho discussion of public questions. It was desirable that the public should ho allowed and encouraged to meet together and discuss these questions, and have (j. voice in their own government, Tho reason given for tho -refusal was that tho committee was anxious to win the war. Tho speaker could not see how tho granting of tho Town Hall could bo detrimental to the winning of the war. This war was a war of democracy against autocracy, and Labour had played its part honourably. The speaker referred to the granting of tho hall to tho Protestant Political Association, whose propaganda had been described by the Solicitor-General as mischievous. There was more likelihood of mischievous -resolutions, being passed at the meeting convened by tho Protestant Political Association than at the meeting called by the Labour Representation Committee. He thought tho real reasons, of tho refusal were party reasons. The Labour Party was opposed to tbo members of the finance diTmnutteo, and he was of the opinion this actuated tho committee. Ho hoped that in the future, tho hall would. ho granted without any discrimination against Labour;

Tho Mayor (Air J. P. Luke) assured tho deputation that as far Sis be was concerned ho admired tho Labour people, but ho would say that wliou there was any possibility of a disturbance or uproar tho council should bo conservative as regards fitting the ball.

Councillor Fitzgerald objected to tho Alayor’s reply# and thought that the true feeling should bo stated. That was that tho majority of tho council considered that the committee had committed an error of judgment. It had been further stated that in the event of the application being made 1 by (the same body it would be granted. After further discussion tbo deputation withdrew. ‘