FREE SPEECH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 193, 15 July 1943, Page 4

FREE SPEECH

FARMERS'. UNION PLANK CONTROL~OF RADIO (Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, July 14 Emphasising as a plank in its platform the right of free speech, the Dominion conference of_ the New Zealand Farmers' Union unanimously adopted resolutions that the radio be removed from political control and placed under a corporate body elected from the principal sections of the community; that the abuse of censorship.*::' be terminated and censorship bo ~ used only to prevent the publica-,: tion or dissemination of news likely to be of use to the enemy.' The following polic3' statements were approved:—- . > The Farmers' Union holds that it is desirable that the State should operate certain public services, especially where by tfieir nature they must be of a monopolistic character, such as railways, telegraph, and electricity. But the union is definitely opposed to the policy of State ownership and control of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. That, except in regard to lands held for specific purposes, the holder be entitled to acquire the freehold from the State under fair and reasonable conditions. That the Government facilitate the taking up of land by suitable settlers with small amounts of capital, but only after requirements making the full recovery of farm costs possible have been' met. We regard it as essential that this be done before any large-scale settlement under the rehabilitation scheme is attempted.

That for rehabilitation purposes the Government should provide advances on special terms of payment to those ex-soldiers wishing to purchase private land.