THE WRONG WAY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 74, 27 March 1919, Page 4

THE WRONG WAY.

I Anti-militarists share the general right to approach Ministers of the Crown with requests, but there are limits of opinion and temper beyond which they should not be allowed to pass with impunity. In receiving a deputation from these people at Cbristchurch, on Tuesday, the Minister for Internal Affairs allowed them to pas- these limite, with affront to the dignity of his office and the feelings of loyal citizens. Judging by the report that has reached Auckland, j Mr. Russell should have pulled uj. the j deputation about half way tlirougn the J proceedings, in the middle of a harangue by the President of the Socialist party, and told them plainly that if they could not behave themselves he would close the interview. Worse, however, was to follow. When Mr. Russell referred to statements male publicly ~by certain men before the war thitt they would just as soon be under the German Hag as the British, some person or persons in the deputation cried " Hoar, hear," and when the Minister referred to this comment, a voice said, '"There is no difference in New Zealand to-day." In the enir-.t, if not in the letter of the law, this was plain sedition, and the Minister should have closed the proceedings at once, and refused to have anything morn to do with the deputation, either then or at any other time, until they had purged themselves of this disloyal element. Ministers in general are inclined to be over-patient and considerate towards these incomprehensible people, who are incapable either of reading the lessons of the war or of feeling thankful that they are on the winning side.