CIVIL SERVANTS’ LIBERTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 187, 8 July 1938, Page 2

CIVIL SERVANTS’ LIBERTY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Having heard recently, on different occasions, something concerning the political liberty of civil servants, it causes one to reflect as to the latitude this liberty will be allowed if the Socialist Government remains in power; also, as to how the younger generation will fare with their initiative, enterprise and ambition suppressed, which qualities enable one to find the position in business and society they may desire. One is inclined to think that these public servants would be repaid by quietly considering the operations past and also the future intentions of the present Government. The B radio stations were promised liberty, which lasted just as long as it took the Government to legislate them off the air. The liberty of private transport has largely ..been wiped out, with the undoubted intententinn of all private owners being forced out of business', the Socialist State taking full control. Mr Savage says they are going the whole journey. Industry is taxed to over half its legitimate profits, thereby restricting expansion of operations, and restricting industrial employment. Last year’s imports were a record, because of a fallacious internal policy. A good proportion of these goods would have been manufactured here under a reasonable Government policy, giving remunerative employment in industry, instead of men being put to public works, many of which are unproductive. Each man put on public works means an extra amount of taxation levied on the public generally. In industry he becomes one hundred per cent revenue maker and payer. In this country we have got well on the way towards wliat is happening in certain European countries to-day—one Government inspector is following on the .heels of the other to see that the laws are obeyed. Regimentation is found in compulsory unionism and State control of sporting activities (only the thin end of the wedge being driven at present). In regimentation of internal marketing (price fixing being only in its infancy as yet) the retailer will be tied down to a minimum profit set by the State. Those who take time to consider can see many other phases of our national life being brought under the control of the State octopus. The oft-repeated threats of restricting, if not wholly taking over, the daily papers are another aspect which is vital to liberty of expression, as the ultimate outcome must be that those who at present have this so-called liberty will not be allowed to express any other political views than those that are red and Socialistic. Those who express otherwise will no doubt he summarily dealt with, as witness tbe declaration of the Socialist Party’s chief, “that they are going the whole journev and whoever gets an. their way is'going to get hurt.” This is simply the earnest of what is to come, no In conclusion, I would like to draw attention to the case of the four colonels who were retired (otherwise .discharged! by this Government because thev drew its attention to the inadequacy of the defence forces. Those gentlemen did nothing more than the late Lord Roberts, when lie drew the attention of the English Government, to the unpreparedness of England in this respect. The English Government, did not cashier linn; they valued Ins advice. The Socialist authorities as good as told these experienced officers to mind their own business, as they have had the temerity to tell _ many other authorities whose advice m certain eases would have turned. out, eventually to he of benefit to this fair country. In Lord Roberts’s case,- England showed her national trait of tolerance—the New Zealand Socialist Government the spirit of wliat is coniine- if the electors sanction it.—T am, etc., LONG-RANGE-VIEW.