SUPPRESSION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 193, 17 August 1942, Page 2

SUPPRESSION

The suppression of the newspaper Democracy and its editor by the Attorney-General should arouse the keen interest of all your readers. In all matters adversely affecting the liberty of their Press and individual right of freedom to express their own opinions, or read, or listen to the opinions of others, the public are entitled to a full and complete explanation. When there is deliberate, arbitrary, suppression and elimination of common rights, as is apparent in the case referred to, omission to make the facts public betrays not only a grossly intolerant mind but fear of the truth. It does—and must—induce and develop in the public mind a realisation that all is not well with the administration of justice, and that, quite definitely. there is something which will not bear the light of public inquiry. The public is entitled to be given specific reasons for the suppression of any portion of its Press, or of any one of its inherent rights as members of a democratic system. G. HINTON-KNOWLES.

Is it not an infringement of a subject's rights to be penalised as was John Hogan? Surely such methods, purely dictatorial, should have no place in a democratic constitution. I call on all loyal residents in New Zealand to protest to the Crown at such methods ere it is too late. K. M. TANNAHILL.