PRICELESS HERITAGE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 309, 24 September 1943, Page 8

PRICELESS HERITAGE

Fears Of Political Censorship

"Political censorship is a thing against which the people are setting their faces at present. They say they have had enough of it, and it must cease.” Applause greeted this statement made by Air. U. Al. Bowden (National, AVellington AVest), when he addressed electors at Brooklyn last night. They accorded him a vote of thanks and expressed their confidence in the National Party. There had been a Labour suggestion. Air. Bowden said, that newspapers should be licensed so that the licence could be suspended if they "twisted the facts. _ “It is going to be a sorry day if New Zealand ever faces a position in which the Press is muzzled,” said Air. Bowden. “AVe have a free Press. Let us keep it. It: is a priceless heritage. The fretdom of access to the courts is beiug filched away from you.” _ Stating that it was the intention ot the National Party, if put m as the Government, to look into the war expenditure, Air. Bowden said the report brought down by the Auditor-General cast serious doubts on the administration ot war expense accounts. There had been carelessness and wastage. Air. S. G. Holland had prepared a critical report on war expenditure and even had it approved bv the Prime Alinister, -but it was withheld from the people by the censor. There was a complete case there to answer That censorship was not imposed for'the safety of the realm. “AA’e find an upsurging of feeling, a growing dissatisfaction with the Labour policy and an acceptance of the constructive .policy of the National Party, said Mr. Bowden. “This coming laruamcnt is "oing to be the most important m the history of New Zealand. I ain positive that peace will come in its lifetime, there will be the change-over from war to peace conditions. The future policy ot the country, its industries and its outlook on international affairs has to be shaped, and the new concept of life has to be made by the coming Government,.whether National or Labour. lhe people have to look to these issues.