CONFUSION AT CHRISTCHURCH

NZ Truth, Issue 406, 5 April 1913, Page 6

CONFUSION AT CHRISTCHURCH

Councillors and the By-laws. A Tumult at the Tower. [From "Truth's" Christchurch Rep.] For many . consecutive Saturday evenings, the Clock Tower m Christchurch has been the meeting place of the passive, resisters and their friends and sympathisers, and many and various have been the harangues de 1 liyered m that locality. As each meeting has exceeded its predecessor m point of volume,, so have the police authorities become more and more concerned lest the throng should get out of hand, and a vigir lant eye has been kept on the scene. Last Saturday evening's gathering assumed such hugh proportions as to absolutely impede the passage of- all traffic, and, as Superintendent Kiely and his officials surveyed THE SURGING MASS OF HUMANITY, it was decided to take some drastic steps. So far as could be gathered,, the meeting was under the auspices of _{3ie Passive Resisters' Union, with Mr. R. E. Williams m the forefront. It was difficult to know precisely what course to pursue, as, addressing , a Public meeting m the street being merely an offence under the city by-laws, summary arrest of offenders is not permissible, ... summonses being necessary. Williams, however, unintentionally paved the way for his own arrest, as he was "wanted" m connection with the | non-payment of a £5 fine and costs, and, disguised with a» false moustache and an unusual hat, he was lumbered off to the police station. Nor was he allowed to go alone,, for the entire throng followed m his wake, while Town • Councillors Burgoyne and McCullough held forth on the right to freedom of speech. On arrival at, the police station, pandemonium reigned, and fully a couple of hundred invaded the "sacred precincts of law'n'6rder, which were filled with v HO WES, JEERS AND DISCOR- ; DANT SONGS. Meanwhile, William's outstanding indebtedness to the Consolidated 1 Revenue was liquidated, and he was set at liberty.' Gradually the multitude dispersed. Since then the civic authorities have been busy issuing summonses for breaches of the city by-laws, and, strange to > relate, Councillors ; Burgoyne and McCullough have been served. The cases were fixed for Friday of this week, after this edition had gone to press, and public interest has peen aroused to fever heat- Apart from the intereat, attaching to the cases . themselves, it is unusual for a councillor to be,, charged .with the commission of a breach 'of his own city's bylaws. The climax has no doubt been' brought about by the continued prosecution, of the anti-militarists, garnishing their wages,, ami threatening to curtail ..their educational advantages, , whith. they . deeply resent as persecution- The working classes In Christchurch /. : ' • ' -ARE ESSENTIALLY • : . DEMOCRATIC, . , and, while m the main ready to serve their coxmtry when required; detest anything m the nature - of compulsion, and, having so many sympathisers, seem likely to break out into open revolt unless a different policy is pursued. - The proceedings at the Clock Tower, Christchurch, last Saturday evening, to-, gether' with anterior events of previous Saturday evenings which led up to tha denouement, formed the subject of. a letter, followed up by a deputation, from the Trades Council to the City Council at Christchurch on Monday last. The writer referred to the "persecution and prosecution" of lads who were m the habit, of speaking from the Clock Tower on Saturday nights. The Mayor, having admitted the deputation, said that the Council had decided to hear its views, although he regarded the matter with some diffidence, seeing that prosecutions were pending. It was made clear by Mr. G. F. Gee, who acted as the Trades Council's spokesman, that the Council was not an advocate of anti-militarists. , That was not the bone of contention, and, m so saying, Mr. Gee cleared the air considerably and showed due and reasonable discretion. What was objected to was THE ACTION OP THE POLICE m suppressing public speech, which suppression, if allowed m one direction, might be extended to any and every other public body of assembled citizens m the community. The Council regarded* the action, of the police, as an unnecessary interference, and calculated to create sympathy with the speakers as had been the case with the Salvation Army years ago. Mr. W. McDougal waxed warmer on the subject; ho said that he considered that the action of the police was an insult to the citizens, who were being unjustly treated and annoyed. It was further stated by Mr. Gee, m reply to Councillor A. S. Taylor, that the meeting on Saturday last was only transformed into a howling furious mob when two constables proceeded to arrest a young man who had just come out of gaol. There is no doubt the Trades Council feels very keenly over what it regards as an interference with the right of free speech m any public place, and the deputation placed the City Council m an embarrassing and delicate position m view of the forthcoming elections. Councillor IT. Hunter elicited from the Mayor that the police had reported on the obstruction, and had been asked by the Council to see that the by-laws were enforced. A difference of opinion was discernible among the Councillors. Councillor C. D. Morris considered that it was useless to have by-laws and police If the by-laws were not carried out. He was supported by Councillor H. J. Otley. Councillor P. Burgoyne, against whom a case is pending, together with Councillors H. Hunter, W. R. Smith and TV. H. Miller, secured the passage of a resolution that the matter be referred back to the By-laws Committee. It would certainly appear as if these latter Councillors were trying to shelter themselves from adverse comment behind the report of a Committee, and they would have SHOWN MORE BACKBONE had they taken tho matter m hand boldly and dealt with it one way or the other forthwith. Weakness never yet commanded any respect, and never will m any circumstances. If tho by-law is to remain, it should be enforced, and not bo' allowed to become a dead-letter; if it la faulty or bad, it should be abrogated or modified. There is no half-way halting house. Interference with freedom of speech and suppression, to which this Dominion Is far too prone, are serious restrictions on the valued liberty of the subject, but, of cpurse, there is another aide, as there always is to every question.

and the reasonable man will always hear both sides. Shopkeepers complain of the crowds' interfering with their business, and vehicular and pedestrian traffic is unquestionably impeded. Some moaus Vivendi ought to be possible by which these youths and their friends and sympathisers can air their real or fancied grievances m a spot where they will not cause so much inconvenience. They may have their rights, but so have other people, and a conflict should be averted.