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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Students' Newspaper. Volume 32, No. 18. July 30, 1969

Speaker Plea

Speaker Plea

Representations have been made to the Speaker of the House of Representatives by the Socialist Club in an endeavour to gain the use of amplifying equipment for the demonstration on Saturday week.

Equipment was first refused when a public meeting was held last year to protest at the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia.

"New Zealand prides itself on the extent of basic democratic rights granted its citizens, especially in matters of freedom of speech and of assembly," wrote Owen Hughes, treasurer of the club.

"It seems an anomaly then that, in the precints of Parliament Buildings, in the presence of the people's Government representative, that free speech is effectively stiffled by your refusal to allow amplifying equipment to be used in addressing outside assemblies.

"Ironically, we note that this ruling has been waived in respect of Parliament itself, when at its recent official opening, a comprehensive sound system was used to broadcast the proceedings to those outside."

The letter said that opposition to the war encompassed a "considerable" section of the population.

"This section has a right to make its opinions heard by its representatives and the public in any way within the laws of this country and the scope of its basic democratic rights," it said.

"In the interest of preserving these rights and seeing they are observed, it is your duty to reverse this decision."