Defence Of Liberty Urged By P.M.

Northern Advocate, 19 February 1940, Page 6

Defence Of Liberty Urged By P.M.

r Special to “Northern Advocate ”] WELLINGTON, This Day.

The Prime Minister, in a broadcast address last night, said that the country was in the war for the retention of freedom, and could not afford to be hindered by any thought of subversive action or speech. Mr Savage said it was beyond doubt that ihe voice of Moscow was heard in the land, and it was obvious that the wily propagandist of Berlin had succeeded in tickling the ears of some unwary people in New Zealand. Something of Problem. The question of freedom was something of a problem, because some sacrifice of accustomed rights sufficient to give a greater measure of liberty in future might be necessary. Mr Savage said it might be asked why freedom should be given a local application, as though the liberty of the people here was more important and of a different brand from elsewhere. His answer was that in time of peace, individual freedom in New Zealand had been among the widest and most joyous in the world. Did the people wish to lose it? He said he knew quite well that there was a difference of opinion in New Zealand in regard to the scope of freedom in time of war. Some people thought that it was no breach of freedom to conscript people for foreign service. This difference of opinion existed and found expression in every country within the British Commonwealth. “Needs Must.” Different and desperate circumstances, however, might demand changes. There was still a great deal of truth in the old saying: “Needs must when the devil drives.” Mr Savage said he could see no insuperable difficulty in this country with regard to securing the most effective wartime services from all the people to retain their liberty and their high standard of comfort. If commonsense was given full play, the problem of regulating freedom should be solved without the enactment of harsh measures. Pacifists Almost Militant. Mr Savage said that some pacifist# had become almost militant in their untimely advocacy of peace while the world ' was confronted by the Nazi menace. These people might be honest in their beliefs and actions, and might believe that they were following the dictates of conscience, but it was difficult to keep patience with such zealous and deluded people.