FREE SPEECH

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 July 1934, Page 5

FREE SPEECH

AUCKLAND DEMONSTRATION.

SIX ARRESTS MADE

AUCKLAND, Friday,

Six men were arrested as a result of a demonstration at the corner of Pitt and Beresford streets to-night, when, in defiance of the ban imposed by the City Council, an attempt was made to hold a street meeting in a campaign for free speech. The meeting was arranged by an organisation styling itself the ‘ ‘ Free Speech Council,’’ on which the Communist Party has representation. A large ' detachment of police, assisted later by a squad of mounted constables, had the situation well in hand. Although for a few minutes shortly after eight o’clock the crowd appeared to be in an ugly mood, the agitators and spectators Avere all dispersed shortly after nine o ’clock. Earlier in the Aveek, mimeographed sheets had been circulated in the city advertising the meeting. They were issued by the local party committee of the Auckland section of the Communist Party of NeAV Zealand. Some time before eight o’clock, a croAvd began to collect. It greAV rapidly until several hundred people Avere moving in groups up and doAvn Pitt Street.

Parties of police patrolled the streets issuing orders to all pedestrians to keep moA’ing. Shortly after eight o’clock, the first disturbance occurred. A young man Avearing a black beret and carrying an armful of papers attempted to address the croAvd. He Avas Avarned to desist, but Avhen he continued to speak he A\ r as seized by seA--eral constables and marched to a, Avaiting police A*an. A croAvd folloAA’ed in the Avake #f the arrested man, Avho continued to exhort them. He Avas still shouting Avhen he Avas locked in the van to be conveyed to the Watch House.

The van had hardly left Avhen the noise of a second disturbance dreAv the croAA’d back to the corner of Beresford Street. People Avere SAvarming over the roadway and sporadic attempts AA'ere made by various men to address the croAvd. One of the agitators climbed on the roof of a public lavatory in the centre of the street and spoke for several minutes. The croAA'd booed and jeered as a constable climbed up on the roof. The speaker jumped doAvn and Avas immediately taken in charge by Avaiting policemen. He struggled violently as he Avas dragged to a car. Practically simultaneously, four other men Avere arrested further doAim Beresford Street and Avere kept in the Central Fire Station under a police guard, pending the return of the A*an. There avrs a diversion Avhen another man appeared through the first floor AvindoAVS of a building and, standing on top of the verandah, spoke for several minutes, Avith occasional apprehensive glances at the open AvindoAvs behind him. Policemen entered the building, but the speaker appeared to escape from the top of the A’erandah into an adjoining property, which rises steeply from the road. The' running Avas taken up by another man, aa'lio stood on the verandah of an apartment house tAvo doors further doAAm Beresford Street and Avas alloAved to speak Avithout interference, He addressed the gathering for several minutes, Avithout interference, on the rights of free speech, but at about 8.30p.m. a squad of mounted police appeared from Pitt Street. A section of the crowd hooted, but the spectators, who considerably outnumbered the^ agitators, immediately began to move off. The mounted constables moved up and down the street gradually clearing even the pavements. Other, police assisted in keeping the croAvd moving and by nine o’clock, when the shops had sliut, only a feAV men in scattered groups remained in the A’icinitv. Not a police baton had' been draAvn during the disturbance.

The arrested men Avere taken into custodv on various charges of holding a street meeting AAathout a nerrnit from the City Council, beh a vine- in a disorderlv manner, inciting to disorder, obstructing and resisting the nolire, loitering in a nnblic nlaee and usin<r indecent language. No bail A'*ns allowed and all six men Avill appear in the S.M. Court. —(P.A.)