The Dominion.. TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1938. ATTACKS ON LIBERTY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 150, 22 March 1938, Page 8

The Dominion.. TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1938. ATTACKS ON LIBERTY

Recent happenings here and abroad give special point to the remarks of the British Prime Minister on free speech and a free Press. These, Mr. Chamberlain said, are the guardians of the people’s liberty. In Germany, the people are not permitted to know the truth either through free speech or a free Press. They are told only what suits the purpose of their rulers, and any departure from the officiallyprepared news means persecution and imprisonment. Readers of the record of developments following the invasion of Austria will have noted that among the earliest appointments made by Herr Hitler was that of a “Minister for Moulding the Public Will.” The moulding of the public will is accomplished by 1 the suppression of unpleasant facts and the presentation of the policy and actions of those in authority in such a light as is most likely to win popular approval. The people are not permitted to form their own judgment on the facts, for there is no freedom for anyone to tell or publish the facts. a So it is that in Germany, in Italy and in Russia the great mass of the people are swayed and influenced not by the truth regarding the actions of their rulers, but by official propaganda which there is no means of checking. Those who dare to seek and proclaim the truth are treated as enemies of the State, and receive short shrift. In these circumstances it is not a difficult matter for the public will” to misrepresent and distort the actions of foreign, countries and create a sense' of distrust and resentment among the people which is hot warranted by the facts. In this manner obstacles are placed in the way of friendly influences working for harmonious relations between the peoples of the dictator-ruled countries and their democra-tically-governed neighbours. It was with this thought in view, no doubt, that Mr. Chamberlain remarked: “If the public are not allowed to know the facts, and if they are only allowed to know what their rulers choose them to hear, then that people is in danger of being led to embark on a cdurse which may presently lead them to disaster.” This robbing of the people of their right of free speech and a ftee Press usually is not accomplished in a day. It js a gradual growth following step by step the encroachment on individual rights and liberties, and is a recognised part of Communistic, Fascist, Nazi and Socialist policy. All these political creeds resent and resist, and ultimately suppress, the free expression of opinion. Here in New Zealand we have had threats from members of .our Socialist Government designed to intimidate the Press; and in various parts of the Dominion speakers at public meetings holding opinions opposed to the Government now in office have had the utmost difficulty in securing any sort of a hearing owing to the rowdyism of those who disagree with their views.

It is a deliberate and obviously organised attack on free speech. Such an attack occurred at Timaru last week, where the Leader of the Opposition and Mr. S. G. Holland were attempting to speak. Commenting subsequently-on this particular happening, Mr. Holland said: We stand for the preservation of the precious rights of freedom ’ which have been handed down to us—freedom of the individual and freedom of speech. However, free speech in this country is rapidly becoming Nazi-ised. The only difference between this country and Germany is that in Germany a man may not speak at all unless he is in agreement with the Government, and in this country, and this was evi- ’ deuced'by the hooliganism in Timaru on Friday night, one is not per- < mitted to speak unless one is expressing sentiments which find approval with the Labour supporters. The Government will not raise, and has not raised, a finger to stop this thing and give their opponents the right to

discuss'matters with their fellow-countrymen. We have ourselves commented on this interference with the rights of speakers at public meetings, and the rights also of the public to hear ■the views of speakers opposed to the present Government. But no steps have been taken by those in authority to check the rowdy element attending the meetings. It is significant that only those speakers opposed to the Government and its Socialist‘policy have their meetings disturbed. Ministers perhaps do hot realise that the public are not blind to this fact, and the unpleasant inferences which may be drawn therefrom.