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Free Speech Bans
to be Probed
A far-seeking inquiry into interference .
with civil liberties, including freedom of
speech, is proposed by a body of ministers
of religion, who have called a general
meeting next Week of clergymen and all
civic bodies.
; Their action ' has been
prompted by recent refusals of
public halls for "what appear :
legitimate public meetings."
Those calling the meeting
are Canon W. G. Thomas, and
Revs. Gwyn Miller, P. Hartlfey,
R. H. Pethybrldge, V. James,
P. Baker and A. Dickie, who
have subscribed their names to
a letter to "The Age."
In their letter they say:
"As ministers of religion we
are alarmed by what appear to
be recent limitations on the
democratic right of free asso
ciation arid free speech, and we
are gravely disturbed by the
reported exercise of economic
reprisals against individuals for
affirming the right of free
speech.
"We also feel that the alle
gations of 'flagrant disloyalty
and breaches of decency' which
have been levelled against some
of the people concerned should
be either substantiated or with
drawn."
The letter said that in an
earnest endeavor to clarify the
issues "arid safeguard the best
British traditions, on behalf of
a larger group of ministers of
various religions they had de
cided to organise an Inquiry.
This, they hoped, would give
delegates or observers from all
churches, trade unions, and
other civic bodies and oppor
tunity to hear why it was
thought necessary "in some
quarters" to forbid the use of
city halls.
The ministers said "The
Victorian executive of the
R.S.L. will be Invited to state
whether the organised disrup
tion of public meetings and the
denial of public halls to citi
zens because of their political
or religious views is official
policy and, if so, why such a
policy is considered neces
sary."
Mr. j. Rodgers- will be in-
vited to answer questions from
the R.S.L. about his loyalty and
fitness to speak in public halls.
The meeting of inquiry will
be held in the Assembly Hall
(if possible) on Thursday at 10
a.m. Ministers of religion and
civic bodies who do not receive
separate invitations early in
the week are asked by the cor
respondents to apply to Rev.
A. M. Dickie (PU3826) or Rev.
P. Hartley (UL2669).
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