PUNISHMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1942, Page 4

PUNISHMENT

It is not to be supposed that every critic is an enemy. Provided criticism is constructive, it should be welccmed. Constitutional authoritv could not survive without general public endorsement. Where, however. anomalies of administration occur, fair comment should be helpful. On the 28th ult. a conscientious objector, having suffered long detention for his beliefs, was sentenced to ten days' bread and water for refusing to salute prison officers, doubtless feeling that such an act would be a violation of conscience. The report states that this man had twice previously been punished for the same offence. It further credits him with dignified and respectful answers to the magistrate's examination. I do not share the views of the man in question, but there is a certain legic in his attitude. I should be grateful if you would permit my personal protest at the treatment accorded him. We are so far removed from the totalitarian conception of individual liberty that this pursuit of a man burdened with a conscience about saluting prison officers is to be deeply deplored. It is pcor psychology and confers martyrdom on a cause which, in the public interest, should not have such encouragement at the present time ALEXANDER HODGE.