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PROTEST ON TOWN
HALL BY CLERGY
Twenty-three clergymen this afternoon pro
tested in writing to the Lord Mayor (Cr Disney)
against the "refusal of the Town Hall for the
purposes for which it is engaged."
The ministers commended
the Town Hall and Properties
Committe on its decision to
grant the hall for meetings to
be addressed by the director of
Australia-Soviet House (Mr
John Rodgcrs) .
"This decision," they said,
"is an indication that freedom
of association and speech and
a desire for world understand-
ing mean something in the
city of Melbourne. We regret
that for what can be no other
than political reasons. 17 non-
Labor members agreed unani-
mously to recommend the
Council to cancel the bookings
at its meeting next Wednes-
day."
Until the "deeper reasons"
referred to by Cr. Brens were
disclosed, they said, they would
continue to make their protest
and to urge the Council to
uphold the rights of free speech
within the City Hall.
"We shall continue to warn
the people that freedom of
speech is a freedom which
they give away at their peril,"
they added.
The following clergymen
signed the protest: Rev. Palmer
Phillips. Bishop D. Baker.
Canon W. G. Thomas. Dean
Langley. Rev. Lyall Williams,
Rev. W. Bottomley, Rev. A.
Dickie. Rev. Frank Hartley.
Rev. D. D. Munro Rev. E. F.
Elmore. Rev. G. Miller. Rev. R.
Green. Rev. K. Dowding. Rev.
J. Stuckey, Rev. R. H. Pethy-
bridge, Rev. C. Wright, Rev. M.
Clarke, Rev. C. Blainey. Rev.
Victor James, Rev. Frank By-
att, Rev. A. J. Porter, Rev.
Stephen Yarnold and Rev.
Nankivell.
"Reprisals" Threat on Hall Ban
— Page 5.
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