THE RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 253, 23 October 1907, Page 8

THE RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH.

(To the Editor.} Sir, —The suspension ana dismissal of Mt. McCullough is a far more serious matter Than appears on the surface, and concerns every citizen in the colony. In view of the grave issues involved vce are amazed at tho mild way his treatment has been received. It comes somewhat as a shock that here, in this muchlauded democratic land, the sacred and inalienable right of private judgment and free speech should be ruthlessly dei nied. Mr. McCullough is a tinsmith in Government employ, and, just because he presumed, as a member of the State,to discuss publicly the affairs of tbe State, and to express his own opinion, he is marked out for dismissal! Such action seems to mc arbitrary and tyrannical to the highest degree, and fraught with menace for the future of our land. We contend that every man, excepting perhaps the heads of great State departments, whose position puts them in possession of State secrets once the hour of the close of their daily toil has struck, is his own master, and has the sacred right to express the thought that is in him, even though that thought concerns the policy of the State. We contend, further, that the Government employer has no more right to interfere with that right than the private employer. And, yet further, we believe that the -weal of the State depends largely upon full recognition of such right. Are we to calmly accept the position that the chief employer in the land has the moral right to veto any political discussion on the part of his workers outside the place of their toil? The position is monstrous and degrading; and, unless w-i greatly mistake the temper of the people of thi3 land, not to be tolerated.

It may be urged that Mr. McCullough broke the departmental regulations, and should have known what ha was doing. But how often have those degrading regulations been- enforced? How manjr pf

ns knew of their existence? And. what becomes of them election times, when civil servants openly canvass for the Government. We are almost compelled to assame that the nature of- Mr. McCullough's utterance prompted the Premier's interference, and thus to regard his action as that of petty and sordid persecution. At any rate, the fact remains that for -twenty years Mr. McCullouglT has taken part in political affairs—as every worthy citizen should — without any Government reproach. If the Government be worthy of that historic name, " Liberal," it will lose no time in so amending its regulations as to enable honourable men to enter its employ and yet preserve their souls.—l am, etc, ■ ' T. A. WILLIAMS. 11 ■ (Baptist Minister). Epsom. 1*