AN ORDINARY MAN’S VIEW OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 2, 27 September 1939, Page 11

AN ORDINARY MAN’S VIEW OF THE WAR

Privileges Of Democracy

MAKING MERRY ABOUT

OUR RULERS

(By Observeb.)

It is the privilege and the sight of citizenship under democracy to make merry at the expense of our rulers, and to criticize them in peace or war within the broad limits of the law ot slander. This is the precious heritage of British people born to freedomhow precious we are unlikely to realize till tlfere is danger of losing it. Can you imagine your country so terrorized by a ruling clique that an incautious remark —let alone open hostility—about their methods or personal attributes, might encompass your “removal?”

Can you picture your Press so muzzled as to print no questioning of those who may hold authority in the land? Can you think of a state of life in which a quip or jest about your political rulers would cost you your liberty? The idea is preposterous under our particular flag, which is clear from the sign of the swastika. Here is a neat thing from E. C. Bentley’s “Baseless Biography”:—

The moustache of Adolf Hitler Could hardly be littler, Was the thought that kept recurring To Field-Marshal Goering. Think of the scene in high Nazi circles if Dr. Goebbels were so indiscreet as to publish the above in his paper, “Der Angriffi” (“The Attack”), laying bare brother Goering’s ambitions.

That is Nazi Germany, and this is British New Zealand, so I’ll have a try:— The mantle of Seddon, R. J. May fall on mj' shoulder —some day, Right Honourable replacing M.P. Thinks John Alexander (Jack) Lee. And this:

We’re putting our shirt on the war-r-r An’ never been stripped so befor-r-r, Beggens o’ course can’t be choosers ■ But, please Walter, leave us our troosers.

If I should end my days on Somes Island for this, think of one who gave all for democracy.