ANTI-DISLOYALIST BODY

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 38, 13 August 1920, Page 6

ANTI-DISLOYALIST BODY

Disloyalty is a favourite sideline with turbulent propagandists. It is used by the class-war press and by certain Eections of the sectarian press, generally within legal limits; and, with)more freedom, it is used by the soap-box orator. Many pin-pricks to loyalty occur that are either not illegal or are not noticed by the law, and the rebuke of which—if they are rebuked at all—devolves upon such loyal people as may be witness thereto. In order to. consolidate loyal public opinion, and to strengthen its opposition to the practices of the disloyal minority, a King and Empire League has been formed in New South Wales, where anti-patriotic gallery play seems to be even more rampant than in this country. The cablegrams state that "the avowed objects of the body are to discountenance disloyalty and to keep Australian national life free from pernicious foreign doctrines calculated to impair the national spirit and interfere with duty to the Empire." The success of these principles will depend upon the method of their application; there is good in such a/league provided that it does not take too much upon itself, does not put/itself above the law, and does not pursue an offensive (instead of a> defensive) policy. Under the new Immigratior .Restriction Bill, all British subjects landing in New Zealand (except members of military forces, merchant sea.meu; etc.) must tako the oath

oi allegiance. That requirement should keep'out conscientious disloyalists, if that sort of disloyalist exists. But Mr. Peter Fraser, M.P. for Wellington Central, has, proved that the taking of the oath.- of nllegianci! does not restrain men of his stamp from the exercise of pin-pricking tactics, such as his refusal to sign-the municipal address to.the Prince of Walps. A consolidation r:f public opinion on the point would carry more weight than a disloyalist's sworn pledge.