FREE SPEECH

Evening Post, Issue 45, 22 February 1936, Page 10

FREE SPEECH

TO BE ENCOURAGED

MINISTER'S DICTUM

jS tO NEED FOR MUZZLING

The value of free speech and the untrammelled interchange o£ thoughts was stressed by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) at the annual dinner of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers last night, when he made it clear that the Government hoped to encourage development in this direction.

Referring to the speech of Professor J.v.Shelley earlier in the evening, the Minister said that the Professor had remarked that it would be a good thing for New' Zealand and the rest of-the world if men and nations were to tell one another just what they thought, if they possessed the human courage that would compel them to do so! "I am satisfied that Professor Shelley has struck a very important note," continued Mr. Semple. "I am sure that one of the things that handicap progress is the lack of understanding, a thing that stultifies and minimises the natural thoughts of men. It creates suspicion; suspicion breeds ffjar; fear breeds hatred; and hatred breeds internal conflict and external wars. If we possessed sufficient courage to speak up when we thought we should, I am sure we would live in a better world. Professor Shelley also said that the engineering profession and those engaged in public service to the nation are called upon to give their service to the nation, but have to keep thoughts to themselves. I have always; been opposed to.that. If a man. serves a nation, the nation should be big enough to give him the right to express his free and unfettered thoughts upon every question that faces the nation, and I want to tell the public servants of this country that they! are going to get that right—a free and unfettered right.

% "I;.want them to look upon me not as a master, but as a mate. I do not -want to put a padlock on their lips. When they have something that I should, know, that the Government should know, that the nation should know, I ask them to come to me. They ,may( rest assured that we will not say, 'Get into your dugouts and shut up!' We will say, "Hallelujah."

"We want thoughts of men and w,omeh. It is only by free and unfettered thought that we can solve the problems ahead of us. We are passing through a transitionary stage. There was never a period in the history of mankind when the thoughts of everyorie would be more welcome than they are today.. No man need be muzzled. No Snan should be muzzled. The thbughts that men and women give develop as a result of their work and ihjeir, experience and are the gifts of God, and they should be given to their fellow-creatures. And the Government of today will encourage them to do