Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY WEDNESDAY, NOV, 25, 1931. WHAT IS TRUTH?

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2805, 25 November 1931, Page 4

Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY WEDNESDAY, NOV, 25, 1931. WHAT IS TRUTH?

A CORRESPONDENT writes seeking truth in politics. “What is truth?” asked Pilate on a Certain historical occasion recorded in Scripture. In his question there icsides a sophisticated philosophy. “Tru,th. like honesty,” observed a cynic centuries later, "is a point of view.” That is an accommodating definition. It is founded no doubt upon the fact of human experience that most people regard as truth that which they would like to believe rather than as something which they ought to believe. One of the fundamental propositions of human morality is that the truth shall prevail. What usually happens is that argument prevails and truth too often is submerged. The guilty person who pleads “not guilty” in a court of justice may escape punishment through the skilful argument of his counsel. Thus the fountain of justice is polluted and truth is driven to the bottom of the well. The search for truth has, from time immemorial, been one of the asiduous, and, of course, unending activities of the human race. It keeps our courts of law very busy, and sc, demonstrates aspects of human frailty concerning which judges are Well qualified to speak. Recently Mr Justice M’Cardie took "Truth” as the subject of an address which he delivered before the members of the Royal Medico-Psychological Association in England. "The three major enemies of truth,” he declared, "are lack of courage, self interest, and bias; other enemies arc habit, prejudice, undue regard to ancient authority, false conceit of knowledge, and indolence of mind.”

The learned judge went on to discuss perjury in the courts. "With regret,” he said, "I venture to express the opinion that perjury in the law courts is in some degree encouraged and increased by the low standard of frankness and honesty so widely and unhappily shown in many aspects of our party political system.” It seems a trifle unfortunate that he did not enlarge a little more upon this interesting aspect of his theme. The judge’s observations were fortunately accorded due publicity, and comment in the newspapers. "The News Chronicle,” taking up the question of political responsibility, remarks that while the political system may have a good deal to answer for, its relation to the oath of a witness seems exceedingly remote. "Honesty in politics is a relative term,” argues that journal, "but the spread of political intelligence and the greater political realism of to-day make it much more difficult for political immoralities, quackeries and shams to exercise a definite and permanent influence on the life of the nation.”

Curiously enough, while the telling of the truth in private life is a matter of personal honour, in public life it is too often a matter of expediency or policy, justified by that hardworked phrase, "in the public interest." If the force of public opinion is to become more effective, this justification must be more critically examined. Only thus may a political power be compelled to be more honest with its constituents, and a community more honest with itself. Sound private judgment and sound public opinion are based upon facts; not some of the facts, but all of the facts. Failure to insist upon them arises from those “enemies of truth” .enumerated by Mr Justice M’Caidie. The way out of our difficulties will be made easier if by a sharpening of private and public conscience greater insistence is placed upon facts rather than upon opinions, and contending interests become more honest with themselves.