BAN ON MEETINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 931, 29 November 1933, Page 7

BAN ON MEETINGS.

Deputation Asks for Removal. MINISTER DEFENDS POLICE. Her P'ess Association. WELLINGTON, November 29. Freedom of speech and assemblage, the removal of the ban on workingclass literature, and the release of all prisoners imprisoned for offences arising out of working-class activities were among the requests made to the Minister of Justice (the Hon J. G. Cobbe) by a deputation from the National Unemployed Workers’ Movement. Complaint was made by Mr L. Sim of the action of the police in preventing a meeting at Palmerston North after permission had been given for a workers’ assemblage to be held. With regard to the specific case of one Ivan Tomasevic a speaker in the course of his representations said: “We demand the right of trial by jury.” Mr Cobbe asked: Why use that expression “We demand”? Can’t you make out a decent case by argument. Mr Sim said: I demand freedom of speech on behalf of all the working class. Mr Cobbe: You are certainly enjoying it now 7. He added that freedom of speech was capable of a wide interpretation, and some people regarded it as a means of inciting others to violence. Replying to the representations, Mr Cobbe said he had arranged for a meeting place to be provided in Palmerston, but the workers wanted to hold a procession in the Square and interfere with business. Mr Cobbe recalled what had happened in Auckland and Wellington, and said: “We are not going to have that sort of thing again. It is no good you talking about the police being a source of trouble. They carry out their duties fairly and well, and don’t take action unless people interfere with the freedom of others.’*