PERSONAL LIBERTY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 April 1934, Page 2

PERSONAL LIBERTY

MODERN MENACES Modern menaces to personal liberty were discussed by Mr Norman Birkett, K.C., in a recent speech. “In Russia, Germany, and Italy,” he said, “it would appear that democracy and Liberty have fallen at the foot of the dictator. 11. would he folly to ignore these tilings. It was perfectly plain that the menace to those tilings which they cherish, such as personal liberty, was great and overwhelming. Were they sure that in their country at the present time the same kind of menace was not present? Mr Birkett asked if it were not plain that inside one of the great political parties in this country there was a cleavage of opinion that was so great as to go right to the bottom. “Upon one side.” he said, “arc those who believe in democratic government, the liberty of the subject and the supremacy of Parliament, and oil the other are those who believe that Parliament is an outworn instrument. This idea that Parliament is effete and outworn and must be got rid of and that we must have new methods—if it is not .properly understood—means the very gravest dangers to the liberties we have won. Though the law comes in for a great deal of criticism, and justly, I suggest that one of the greatest safeguards to personal liberty we have at this time is the law and the administration of the law as it is administered by our judges this very day. It would he folly of the greatest kind if the supreme independence of the judiciary were undermined in the slightest degree.”