N.Z. ‘ripe for fascism,’ says author

Press, 27 May 1978, Page 1

N.Z. ‘ripe for fascism,’ says author

Symptoms of fascism are “frighteningly evident” in New Zealand, according to the author and playwright, James McNeish. Speaking at the national medical students’ convention, Mr McNeish said the trend was part of a genera! world pattern. "But that does .not make it any less frightening for us." he said. “We must meet these symptoms, even though it will be hard in a country that is politically -naive.”

The symptoms, all signals of unparliamentary, undemocratic bullying, he said, showed through in incidents such as the Moyle affair, the Sutch affair, the S.I.S. Bill, the Abortion Bill, the Wanganui Computer Centre, industrial unrest, and the present probe into harsher penalties for violent offending. New Zealand was “ripe for fascism.” “We have a tremendous fear of the intellectual in this country, a simple patriotism, a paranoia about industrial unions, an out-

standing xenophobia (fear of people who are foreign, or different), a unique acceptance of Government controls, and of bureaucratic interference in our homes and lives, a terrible fear Ct expressing what we feel and believe, and a shocking lack of political courage. “If I was politically motivated, I wouldn’t go to England: the British won’t be pushed, they won’t have their personal liberties infringed,” Mr McNeish said.

“I wouldn’t go to Australia: in Australia there is a healthy loathing of authority. Australia may be many things that you don't like, but it is not a timid society. “If I were an unprincipled politician and had a power complex I would come to New Zealand straight off. It is a marvellous breeding ground for fascism.” Fear was so ingrained in New Zealand the party on the Left had called for a referendum on abortion because it did not have

the courage to take a stand, he said. The traditional Kiwi motto of “She’ll be right” was politically disastrous. In political terms it meant, “It can’t happen here.” Yet this was what people had said in Italy before Mussolini, and in Germany before Hitler, said MrMcNeish. “New Zealand society has never been tested before in this way. Historically, there is no precedent for what is now a national moral vacuum,” he said. “Authoritarianism — the road to fascism, if you

like — might, on the other hand, be the answer to our prayers, we are so inert, so timid. And authoritarianism needs willing partners, such as a willing and inert public. “People who want to Create and maintain an authoritarian State have to rely on confrontation politics,” Mr McNeish said.

“You must have disorder before you can win an election on law and order. You must polarise society before you can divide and rule.”