THREAT TO DEMOCRACY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 116, 17 April 1939, Page 9

THREAT TO DEMOCRACY

DICTATORSHIPS DENOUNCED. AIR SEMPLE OUTSPOKEN. “Democracy is at the crossroads. Never lias there been a time when we should think more of our rights and privileges AA’e have in our time witnessed ancient democracies crumble, but emerge out of the ruins again and develop a new form of government, which contains the essence of slavery—l refer, of course, to the dictatorships.”

This was a statement made by Hon. R. Semple (Minister of Public Works), when replying to the toast of “Parliament,” proposed by the Mayor of Palmerston North (Air A. E. Alansford), at a luncheon in connection with the opening of the AA’hirokino trestle bridge on Saturday.

There was no use attempting to disguise the conspiracy to destroy the democratic institutions ot the world, added the Alinister. Britain represented the sheet-anchor of democracy and was the safety zone of the world. If the British Empire went we would, go also. Our liberty would he gone and we would be brought under the scope of a dictatorship. The British people had enjoyed self-government, and he was one of those who believed that our form of government was the soundest and best that man had ever produced. He knew that in most of the countries of the Empire there wore some people who believed that democracy lnid outlived its usefulness and that other forms of government were worth a trial, but he was not one of those. The best form of government was in giving the people unfettered liberty to suggest their thoughts. AT AN’S LIMITATIONS. Dictatorships were political imbecility, the Minister contended. There never was a man horn big enough to govern any one nation. He had read a great deal of the dictatorship Governments, and had talked with people who had been to their countries, notably Lord Nuffield, who had told him that he would “rather he dead 10 000 times than live for 10 minutes under one of those Governments.” Not only were the people's other liberties menaced, lint- their religious liberties were also challenged and destroyed. AA'e might differ in general polities, but if ever we became a mutual admiration society democracy would perish. Human thought should be expressed unfettered, and the greatest freedom that could he given a country was the freedom of its own destiny. AA’e were not to be blown like cobwebs in the wind, and men should not lie satisfied to follow the road blazed by one man. PERPETUATION OE DEAIOCRACV.

A'ou cannot get, thoughts out of

people governed by fear, the firing squad, or the Government,” continued ALr Semple. AA’e could only get thoughts leaping from the mind and brain, which led to citizenship. One thing we could not afford to differ on was the perpetuation of our form of government. (Applause.) At the beginning of his career, Air Semple proceeded, he had tried to form some idea of what services he should offer the community. He had tried to understand the economics of the different countries, a.nd without a certain knowledge of this subject no man could give service to his country. Metaphorically speaking. the world was a smaller place now than it was a few years ago, thanks to the inventive genius of the human race. It was a tragedy if the democratic system should not be used for the benefit of the race. All our facilities should he used to make the world a better place; there was a corner beneath God’s sun for everybody, and they should he able fo share in the tilings that God hud given us. AA’e should try to divorce the lust to kill and greed for power, and try to give our services in the interest of everyone. He hoped to live to sec the time when the threat of war would disappear. Tn this little country we were farflung from the centres of iho world, hut in no way might wo be safe from the four corners of the earth where conflict would rage. It was the duty of every fit man to hold himself in readiness' to give service for his country. (Applause.l NOT IN SAFETY ZONE.

Mr Semple said that lie was not a pacifist. During tho last, war he had fought against profiteering; it was “blood money” and nothing else. Profiteering was criminal, and millions Juid been extracted here and at Home. The profiteer was then as big an enemy as the Kaiser; no one had the right to take a penny while our sons were fighting for the heritage we were proud of. His attitude would be the same to-morrow.

“1 say to you definitely that this country is not in the safety zone. It’s in the danger zone on account of modern facilities. I say that without apologising to anybody and run tbe risk of being called a jingo if you like. Every man should be ready to die rather than lie ready to sacrifice his privileges and the privileges of everyone as well.

“1 would not say ‘Go.’ I would say ‘Come with me.’ I will be in Lie lront line trenches with the men. New Zealand has to be defended at all costs. And those who are on the inside know something about that. I want to say to you we are not in the safety zone. The world will be the battlefield if the thing comes again. This brings me to tlie point that we are to do the best we can to provide tho best line of defence for this country.”

The Government was trying to do its best to develop the first lino of our defence —the air. Instances were given of the modern methods being used at AA’henuapai (near Auckland); an aerodrome was being built there capable of taking the biggest bombing’plane. The maximum consideration was being given to stop depression on the surface of tho runway. It had been estimated that it would take 250 men eight years to build the aerodrome, but the Government, with its modern equipment, was going to do this ill less than 12 months. Tbe landing field would be honeycombed with drains; they had a machine there that would dig a deep drain 4ft. at the rate of nearly a mile a day. AVe were not going to war with anyone, but were protecting our own country, tho Alinister proceeded. AA’e were merely the trustees of the country, and our job was to make it a better place than it was when we found it. Some people might sav he was too old to fight, but give him a rifle and see what he could do. In conclusion, Air Semple said ho wa.s glad that Mr Mansford had struck this note; democracy could only be perpetuated if the people who enjoyed that freedom were prepared to defend it.