COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21794, 8 May 1934, Page 13

COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA

Sir, —From time to time protest is made by someone against the prohibition of the free circulation and admission into the Dominion of Communist literature. What is called tlio right of free speech and a free press has been fought for and won, but it is suggested that when any attempt is made to put forward a policy unpopular to those in high places the arm of the law is moved to snatch that right away. They ask, How can this be justified? Its unpopularity in high places is no justification. That this or that section disapproves of Communism does not matter at all. That only a small minority adhere to Communism does not justify suppression of its literature or in itself discredit the doctrine. Single taxers, Douglasites, prohibitionists and dozens of other schools of thought are permitted to exploit their theories without hindrance, and the Communist would be permitted to do the same but for one thing—he is an advocate of violence. The prohibitionist, for instance, would interfere with the liberty of the subject to consume intoxicating liquor, but ho proposes to do this by approval of the majority. The Communist is a revolutionary and advocates the imposition of the will of a minority upon the majority by violence. This is clear from Communist literature, and that is the justification for suppressing this propaganda. Communism is tlio avowed enemy of democracy and to quote Larardelle, a revolutionary writer, "it must make use of democracy only the better to destroy it." In New Zealand advocacy of violence and sedition is the test applied to this censored literature. ' N.Z. Welfare .League.