CRITICISM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 50, 28 February 1940, Page 6

CRITICISM.

The broadcast a«ldre-». delivered over the air last Sunday evening by the Hon. Peter Fra«*T told only a portion of the. whole titory relative to the reoenU.v i*«ied_ regulation* regarding tie m•*ervat ion of public safety in war tamo. Clause (1) of Regulation 2 says: "Xo person shall publish or attempt* to publish any subversive statement." A <-ul>--versive statement i* denned, inter alia, ae a statement "likely to prejudice recruiting." To publMi* a statement means, to communicate ft to anyone el*e. If. then, any person were to express to others his view*, about the relative merits of the voluntary and compukorr cysteine and if he were to indicate a. preference for the latter he would **po*e himself to prosecution a* a publisher of seditious statements, if ks* argument could be described a* being likely to induce men to refrain from volunteering and to await the adoption of conscription. Mr. Fraser. *» a member of the Government, can travel from Inrcrcargill to Whangarci and *ay what he like* against conscription in! in favour of voluntary enlistment. X<» private citicen ran h\* voi<v in hone»t criticism of the arguments of tli • Minister. Mr. Fra*er may «ay »]jat b<likes, no one can. without ri-* of prosecution, question or refute his arpimente. If that is democracy, then we IJJf , * * n * ir definition for totalitarian*™. The present <;overnment when i: awumed office lost no time in pivinr itself a party monopoly in respect of the radio service* paid for by the j»ec»p]<-. lt« leaders use the microphone for parly purpose* and in complete disregard of the equality of opportunity which they m» often describe as a fundamental of democracy. By remaining behind the microphone they removed tbemseh*-.-from some of the shafts of popular criticism. Having given tbeniaehe* a I monopoly over radio broadcasting, they I now proceed to give them«elvc*. a further monopoly over the asc of the jvublir ' platform, ih* street otrncr Jind the *o»y 3k)X. The <;overnincni has the oou*litutional privilege of free speech. I* there any reason »hv in a dentorra.y the position of the* ordinary «-Jti»-n should omnpare «m •njifavonra'Wy -aith that, of the temporarv occupant<~ of iluTVeeeurj benches,; * R M. AUiiE.