SPEAKERS HECKLED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 68, 22 March 1938, Page 8

SPEAKERS HECKLED

BEAR GARDEN TACTICS MR. HOLLAND COMPLAINS FREE SPEECH NAZI-ISED. [ Per Press Association. ] TIMARU, March 20. “Free speech in this country is rapidly becoming Nazi-ised,” said Mr. S. G. Holland. M.P., when speaking at a National Party rally at Cave yesterday. Mr. Holland made this comment when referring to the action of certain of the audience at a National Party meeting at Timaru on Friday night in keeping up a running fire of interjections. He had spoken at public meetings, he had spoken at garden parties but on Friday night, said Mr. Holland, he had spoken at a new type of meeting, a bear garden party. “I stand for the preservation of the precious rights of freedom which have been handed down to us," he continued, “freedom of the individual and freedom of speech. However, free speech in this country is rapidly becoming Nazi-ised. “Hooliganism" at Timaru. “The only difference between this country and Germany is that in Germany a man may not speak at all unless he is in agreement with the Government and in this country, t.::d this was shown by hooliganism at Timaru on Friday night, one is not permitted to speak unless one is expressing sentiments which find approval with Labour supporters.” “The Government will not and has not raised a finger to stop this thing and give their opponents the right to discuss matters with their fellow countrymen.

“What are the police doing? They have their instructions and they are not allowed to remove a man from a meeting unless they have written instructions from a speaker beforehand. They came to me at Dunedin and asked me what I wanted them to do I told them they knew their duty and should do it and they replied that they had to have written instructions. I asked them if I hit the chairman on the nose would they wait until he recovered and put his complaint in writing before they would interfere. This sort of thing is going on all over the country and not a single member of the Cabinet has raised a linger to stop it," concluded Mr. Holland.