PRIVILEGE OF FREE SPEECH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 22 April 1941, Page 5

PRIVILEGE OF FREE SPEECH

A. P. HERBERT CRITICISES ABUSES [British Official Wireless] Rugby, Apl. 20. Criticisms of the abuse of free speech were made by Mr A. P. Herbert in a broadcast to-night. Parliament and Press and private persons, said Mr Herbert, had on the whole made a fine and fair use of the ration of free speech, and the Government had wisely allowed them, “But,” he said, “there are those who go about picking small holes in vast problems. There are those who express tremendous faith in their leaders or their country as long as all goes well, but when anything goes wrong will be found to have said all along that the move was mistaken. Each is abusing the privilege of free speech. “It is the easiest thing in the w'orld to pick holes. It is not always the best way to mend a situation. We can face the facts and still be fair. We can be hopeful and resolute without incurring the charge of complacency.” Mr Herbert concluded: "Let us try to follow the example of our great leader, Mr Churchill, w'ho enjoys the greatest freedom of speech in the country. If ever in history a man was entitled to paint on his banner a vast ‘I told you so’ it is he. But he has never srid that, and as far as I know he has never uttered a word of reproach for all those in every party who would not listen to him before. “Mr Churchill is as magnanimous ir. triumph as he is resolute in defeat. He has forgotten all that—or put it asic* \ He says nothing but what is necessary for one great purpose.”