The Dominion. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1940. THE RETURN TO FREEDOM

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 283, 24 August 1940, Page 10

The Dominion. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1940. THE RETURN TO FREEDOM

It is probably true to say that in no part of the British Commonwealth of Nations was there before the war less interference by the State in the affairs of the citizens than in the United Kingdom. The measure of sacrifice involved in the surrender of liberties demanded of them by war emergency legislation was, therefore, relatively much greater than, for example, in the case of New Zealand with its pre-war experience of restrictive legislation under the present Socialist Government. But these sacrifices by the people of the Mother Country were conditional. «t was recognized that to ensure swift action the British Government must necessarily be armed-with dictatorial powers that would not be tolerated in peacetime. Coupled with this recognition was a determination that the civil liberties thus surrendered should be restored in full measure when the war was

over. • * * i • ' On this point Sir Archibald Sinclair, Minister for Air, has just given a most explicit assurance on behalf of the Government. . It is the intention of the Government (he said in his broadcast published yesterday) to preserve in all essentials a free Parliament and a free Press, that all these emergency measures which restrict the liberty of the subject shall disappear with the passing of the Emergency Powers Act, and that the extraordinary powers entrusted to the Executive will vanish with the advent of victory and peace.

Nothing could be plainer,, or more specific. It has all the force and sanctity of a solemn contract on the part of the State to its citizens. It is comprehensive in its implications, and precise as. to the date of its fulfilment. It is without qualification or reservation. Governments have always evinced reluctance to surrender powers vested in them as temporary expedients. Many of the restrictions imposed by the British Government during the last war under the Defence of the Realm Act were repealed only after strong public and Press criticism on the score of their unnecessary and unwarrantable prolongation beyond the period of the emergency which brought these into operation. Sir Archibald Sinclair s explicit. assurance should, therefore, dispel any anxiety on the part of the British public concerning the possibility of a repetition of this in the future. The need for such an assurance applies with even greater force to New Zealand, In this Dominion the war emergency has given the Government the opportunity for extending in large degree the application of Socialistic policy measures already in operation. The Marketing Amendment Bill, of October last, for example, vested practically totalitarian powers in the Government for the control of. all foims of marketing, domestic and overseas. Introduced ostensibly as an emergency measure, it was nevertheless described by the Minister of Marketing, Mr. Nash, as “a Bill of major importance as far as major policy is concerned.” ■ It is right that people should think seriously about the conditions likely to prevail after the war has been fought and won. What are we fighting for? We talk about “the defence of our liberties, as citizens.” These things have been placed in pawn. We are living, quite willingly for the time being, in a regime which in the United Kingdom has been described as analogous in many respects to a totalitarian State. It is no part of our desire that. this kind of existence should be extended for a day longer than is necessary. But beyond question it will be unless the people assert themselves and insist upon the removal of each and every wartime restriction immediately the war is ended. When that day arrives, it is. to be hoped that there will be an exhaustive stock-taking of all the inroads, that have been made upon our liberties and privileges as free and independent citizens since the era of State interference in this country commenced. The result would probably surprise many people who in their apathy, and in their indifference to questions of’ principle in government have failed to notice the gradual encroachments that. have been made upon the domain of their private and business affairs.