THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, JUNE, 26, 1933. STREET DEMONSTRATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21989, 26 June 1933, Page 6

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, JUNE, 26, 1933. STREET DEMONSTRATIONS

The conviction which has been expressed by the Commissioner of Police that it is undesirable that permission should be granted by local authorities to persons to hold street meetings (other than religious meetings), processions, or demonstrations is not to be lightly disregarded. The larger centres of population in the Dominion have all had experiences of sheet demonstrations that were sufficiently unfortunate to render it necessary in the public interest that, in principle, they should'.,, be prohibited. One of the trade union secretaries in Christchurch has expressed the view that the police authorities are seeking to prevent “ legitimate demonstrations and meetings ” which serve as a safety valve. A demonstration was held in that city last week —held in circumstances that did not necessitate an, application for a permit—but it was unsuccessful in the sense that, whereas an attendance of 3000 was hoped for, the official estimate of the number present was 700, inclusive of a number of unemployed who foolishly sacrificed a day’s wages in order to swell the demonstration. And it is now stated that another demonstration in that city is being “ secretly planned ” for this week. Why should it be “ secretly planned ” if it is “ legitimate ”? And why should street meetings, processions, and demonstrations be necessary to serve the purpose of a safety valve? There are open spaces in all the cities that may be utilised for the purpose of demonstrations, where those - who are impressed with the value of a safety valve may rail at authority to their hearts’ content. In this city, for example, there is the Oval. There is a wide expanse of turf which, free from the possibility of interruption by passing traffic, offers, it might be thought, an ideal site for a demonstration. Great, open spaces would, however, seem to be not hankered after by the class of people that is interested in promoting demonstrations. A “ mass meeting ” on the Oval that, on a perfect Sunday afternoon in summer, is attended by only a few score of people, comprising the promoters and their families, chills the enthusiasm of the organisers. So disappointing has it been that this particular form of demonstration has been abandoned in Dunedin. A demonstration staged within the confined limits of a busy street could not possibly be less unimpressive and, from the interest which it would attract from passers-by, might conceivably have some propagandist value. But, the Commissioner of Police has pointed out, “ under cover of crowds the criminal elements in tlffi community venture into overt acts against citizens and the State.” Moreover, the opportunity is afforded by mass demonstra-

tions in the streets to the paid emissaries of Communism to bring others into conflict with authority and to advance their own anti-social views. In the sequel to any disturbances that might thus be caused, the instigators, keeping prudently in the background, would probably escape;—it would be their dupes only who would suffer. Anyhow, the point which the community must, remember- is this, that it is upon the police authorities that the responsibility for the preservation of order and for the protection of property rests and, if it is considered essential by them that street demonstrations should be prohibited in order that they may not be hampered in the discharge of their responsibilities, the public interest demands that they shall be supported in the view they take of the matter.