FREE SPEECH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22328, 31 July 1934, Page 9

FREE SPEECH

THE DANGER OF SUPPRESSION A REPERCUSSIVE EFFECT .. (Pjek United. Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July.3o. "Those who seek to deny or. restrict unreasonably the right of free speech are on the side of disorder. They are fomenting rebellion; By trying to stop an agitation which is carried on openly and lawfully tltcy are driving it under-' ground," said Mr H...D. Dickinson'at a largely-attended meeting held last night to protest against the imprisonment of the men who took part in the "free speech " demonstration in the .street !on July , 20, The .meeting was organised by the Labour. Defence League; and the. audience-included several detectives and constables. .;..,. .. .

Mr Dickinson, who ..is the exchange lecturer in economics, at the University College, said that the right to hold open-air meetings for. propaganda pur-, poses .was an .essential part of the right of free speech as. conceded in British communities. The relegation of public meetings to "hole-and-corner " places was, in effect, a denial of the right of free speech. Under, the recent legislation, any form of,criticism of the New Zealand Government by a civil servant, and any advocacy of. fundamental change in the constitution might-be held ,to be seditious. .That law had put : men all over the .*■ Dominion,, who held views opposed to those of the party in power, in terror of their,positions. The pro-, posed amendment of the Police Offences Act, if passed, would render impossible any discussion of political developments. " Freedom of speech is the only guar; antee for the peaceful solution of the social.problems.which confront the people of this country," said Mr Dickinson. "Conditions are not improved by passing Bills to prevent people from speaking or agitating against conditions which need improvement." ':•'.' r