GOVERNMENT POWERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 177, 29 July 1938, Page 9

GOVERNMENT POWERS

EXTENSION OF CONTROL. ~ i RAPID ECONOMIC CHANGES. ——— i Economic security and a certain minimum standard of living were essential to a full enjoyment of freedom, said Professor H. Belshaw in a university extension lecture in the University College Hall last evening. He regarded it as inevitable that the rapid economic and social changes occurring should lead to an extension of control in various directions. It was better that such control should be exercised by Governments than by economic groups, for Governments were more likely to act in the general interests and were more directly responsible to the people.

Alertness on the part of all citizens was, however, essential, he said. The ultimate responsibility was on the individual citizen, and he could not escape the duty of keeping himself informed.

"In so far as freedom necessitates effective control of government by the people," declared Professor Belshaw, "it involves an attitude of healthy scepticism among the people as a basis for rational judgment, but in addition it implies an improvement in and extension of facilities for education, together with freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. It is not sufficient to support freedom to express views with which one agrees. One must recognise the right of others to express views to which one violently objects. I regard freedom of speech as of fundamental importance to a free and progressive society."