ACADEMIC FREEDOM
Sir,—l think that C. M. Clark and Professor Percival overlook the real significance of this matter. The former cries “Witch-hunt!” and “Fascism!” The latter clings to “the law.” Can staff, students and citizens generally, and particularly those who were at the meeting, see no further than this? That the Minister in charge of Police refused to comment when you referred the original complaint to him suggests that the senior-detective was not present solely to clarify his own ideas about freedom. Now policemen may attend public meetings, and students must obey the laws, but policemen out of uniform are, literally, secret agents. Such agents, be they our police. Communists, members of the Gestapo or the Klu Klux Klan, are the symptoms of a sick society. I believe our “sickness” amounts to political unconsciousness; and. if we continue to accept State action without question, freedom may easily an “academic” matter.—Yours, etc.. GODFREY WILSON. May 26, 1950.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19500527.2.24.2
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 2
Word Count
156ACADEMIC FREEDOM Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 2
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.