NO IMMUNITY FROM CRITICISM

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 157, 29 March 1941, Page 14

NO IMMUNITY FROM CRITICISM

Government’s Position DUTY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOYALTY Dominion Special Service. NAPIER, March 27. Immunity from fair anti proper criticism could not 'be claimed by the Government in New Zealand, and its supporters were certainly not entitled to an immunity which had not been asked for in Britain, even in said Mr. R. M. Algie, director of the New Zealand Freedom Association, in an address which he gave to about 1000 Napier citizens. He said it was the duty of the Government to take the fullest advantage of loyalty and willing co-operation and to provide the means and supply a lead whereby that spirit could express itself in united, harmonious and effective action.' Since the Government had the power to determine the lilies on which the Dominion should press forward, it became its duty to refrain from putting into operation parts of its policy it knew would divide the people. If the Government could see its way tc hold in abeyamce for the time being its plans for the socialization of production, distribution and exchange it would have the right to expect the fullest support for measures properly undertaken for the prosecution of the war. if, however, the Government felt that even In war its own party aims ought to be pushed forward, then the loyal citizen whti stood opposed to Socialism would find himself face to face with a difficult problem. In spite of the determination on the part of the Government to plunge the people deeper into the mire of Socialism, it would still be the people’s duty as loyal citizens to give the Government all it asked for the prosecution of its war measures, but having done that it would still be the citizen's duty to use' every constitutional means to keep alive within himself and others that passion for freedom and insistence on democracy for which men bad gone abroad to fight.

“We are bound to help the Government to the limit of our powers. We may have lo give up for.the time being oiie right or privilege afl<‘r : anolber, but wo cannot assent to the permanent establishment of Socialism, for we believe in our hearts that Socialism when fully operative must destroy free representative government,” declared Mr. Alg'ie. For free representative government to survive, he said people would have to possess the will and determination to make it live. It would not survive of its own accord in an atmosphere of passive acceptance. Also citizens would have to possess lhe political power to make their will to be free fully ami completely effective. Socialism would destroy both these essentials of free rppreppntativp’ government.