STREET MEETINGS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19523, 24 June 1933, Page 6

STREET MEETINGS

ADVICE OF COMMISSIONER. By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, June 23. The City Council recently inquired of Commissioner Wohlmann, the policy of the Police Department towards street meetings, processions, and other : public demonstrations. In his reply, the Commissioner said that in the larger centres particularly, the police were convinced that such gatherings were extremely undesirable. “The events of the past year have shown clearly that requests from people to be allowe- to hold street meetings or to demonstrate, have been In most instances instigated by subversive elements, for the purpose of bringing others into conflict with authority, and to advance their own anti-social aims. Under cover of crowds, the criminal elements in the community venture into overt acts against citizens, and the plea put forward by these agitators to be allowed to appear In crowds on public streets, is not to seek redress of real grievances by constitutional means, but by mass Intimidation of citizens to force concessions." Commissioner Wohlmann said he submitted that the time had gone when the streets in large, populous! cities could or should be used by massed crowds. It was therefore th- Police Department’s policy to consistently advise against permission being given by local authorities to persons to hold street meetings (other than religious meetings), processions, or demonstrations. He advised Auckland to pass a by-law similar to Wellington, making it unlawful to hold processions without a permit. In Wellington the Council re- j ferred all such applications to the police, and if the police objected a per- j mit was always refused. Councillor T. Bloodworth protested j against the language used by the I Commissioner. He said he had no j right to send a letter in that strain. It was the Commissioner’s duty to ad- j minster the law. He (Mr Eloodworth) j would always protest against the police j or anybody else dictating what the laws I should be. People elected by a demo- j cratic vote, not officials, were author- | ised to make laws. The Council decided to instruct the solicitor to prepare a by-law, power to ■ issue permits to be in the Council's i hands.

It also refused the application of the Socialist Party for a permit to hold meetings in a suitable side street.