FREE SPEECH.

Southland Times, Issue 25311, 14 June 1935, Page 11

FREE SPEECH.

To the Editor. Sir, —For some months past eminent British authorities, Lord Beaverbrook, Major Douglas, Mr Winston Churchill, Mr G. W. H. Cole, Sir Norman Angel, etc., have been delivering, per medium of the radio Broadcasting Board controlled by the New Zealand Government speeches on the subject The Causes of War.” War has been surveyed from many angles by these gentlemen, and their contributions regarding this vital matter have been interesting, although some of the state" ments broadcast have been, from the point of view of listeners in other countries, calculated to hinder rather than forward, the cause of peace between nations. A speaker, a recognized authority on his subject who is visiting Invercargill, and debarred the privilege of expressing his views over the air has been refused permission by the Invercargill City Council when application was made for permission to deliver an address on “War and Fascism” from the Band Rotunda in the Post Office square. The decision of the council comes as a surprise to many as the matter . ot “free speech” immediately comes into the question. The other factor, ot course, is the adverse police report, in view of the fact that Mr Gerald Griffin successfully fooled the Australian Government and eventually won his case causing the said Government to spend several thousand pounds in an uns y£" cessful attempt i;o “save face” after the stupid initial mistake when it attempted to keep Mr Griffin out of that country, one could not expect otherwise. I assume that Mr Griffin will confine himself to the subject War and Fascism” and deal with the attitude of the Soviet Government towards this matter. Russia to-day is making superhuman efforts to preserve world peace as she realizes that any war at this stage will ruin her chances ot economic reconstruction; and for this reason alone Mr Griffin should have been permitted to air his views under any reasonable conditions. It may be contended that halls are available for this purpose, but, Mr Editor, halls cost money to hire and I presume that Mr Griffin and his supporters are not wealthy people. Again, the Labour Party and the relief workers have been previously granted permission to hold open air meetings in the Post Office Square. During the war brave speeches were made from the same spot by gentlemen, too old to fight, in favour of murder by mass production; but when someone wishes to put forward the other side of the question permission is refused on the grounds or a danger of Communism”—that fearful subject about which 90 per cent, of our citizens either know nothing or are afraid to tackle. I hold no brief for the Communist Party—l violently disagree with much of its philosophy —but in the interests of free speech I consider that the council has made a grave mistake. It would have been better policy to grant permission and later the police could have taken whatever action they deemed fit. , One cannot condemn tne police, they have to administer reactionary, laws, but to stifle free speech is to drive the trouble underground and breed discontent. Your sub-leader in connection with the matter, in which you mention the weather conditions is quite beside the point. The principle of free speech is the basic factor and the only logical reason I can discover for the councils refusal to grant Mr Griffins request may have been the fear that the speaker might pass some uncomplimentary remarks in connection with those monstrosities—misnamed “statues”—at present glorifying war and domiciled in the Post Office Square-I am, etc. MARCHANT. [The only matter involved is the right to speak from the Band Rotunda--not Free Speech. Don t cloud the real point.—Ed. S.T.] To the Editor. Sir,—ln this morning’s Times I read 'a brief account of a discussion that took place among our City Fathers as to the advisability of allowing Mr Gerald Griffin, of Wellington, to speak from the band rotunda in the Post Office Square, and I note with alarm that an effort is being made to try to prevent the cruel barbarism of Imperialistic wars being placed before the people of Invercargill. It might be of interest to the Mayor and City Councillors to know that after the abortive attempt to prevent Griffin from landing in Australia,. the “Flying Dutchman” as he became know as, addressed meetings in Melbourne that made the crowds that assembled to see the Duke look punitive, and sufficient money was collected to enable the Australian branch of the Anti-War and Fascist movement to send two of their members on .a tour through New Zealand. I refer to Senator Rae and Mr Nugent. Councillor Jones’s suggestion that the council should give him permission provided he did not talk Communism is amusing, and I would suggest that in future all speakers coming to Invercargill should have their speeches censored by Councillor Jones, as I feel sure that this edifice of knowledge would see to it that nothing of an Anti-Capitalistic nature would be allowed to disturb the minds of the residents of our fair city. As I feel sure that most of the Councillors do not know what a Communist really stands for, I would advise them to ask Mr Griffin to give them a private address on Communism, that is of course if he happens to be a Communist. I would like to congratulate Councillor Denham on the stand he took. He at least was prepared to trust the people who trusted him, and gave them credit for possessing intelligence enough to hear all sides, of a question and then form an opinion that would be' of benefit to the whole community.—l am, etc., ALL FOR ALL. [lf Mr Griffin attracts such crowds the difficulty about a hall raised by Mr Marchant, disappears. Free speech is not imperilled by the council’s decision.—Ed. S.T.]