POLITICS AND UNIFORMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22579, 18 November 1936, Page 12

POLITICS AND UNIFORMS

j A remarkable unanimity has been ' shown in the House of Commons about the Public Order Bill. Its general principles have been approved by all parties, and its second reading has been accepted without a division. The only reported protest of any direct and serious sort has been made by a Communist, who with unconscious humour and recklessness of reference, went back to a certain "march to Jlunnymede" for an instance to quote against the Government. Neither he nor any other member afraid that the measure might be abused went so far as to move an amendment. The bill certainly curtails what is usually styled freedom. It sets a limit to liberty of association and empowers police and local authorities to ban processions; its outstanding purpose is to prevent the public wearing of'uniforms as badges of political organisations. That it has been framed in deadly earnest is seen in its penalties ; they range from £IOO or six months' imprisonment;, or both, up to £SOO or two years' imprisonment, or both. Of course, outside Parliament, Sir Oswald Moslev has condemned the bill as alien to British law and tradition. There can be theoretical agreement with him, but he has chiefly himself to thank for the restriction he and his Black Shirts are evidently soon to suffer—and with them some others less deliberately provocative in behaviour. All the causes that feed on disorder deserve to have their riotous wings clipped close. When the principles of the legislation are analysed they are found to be really a protection of liberty by the banning of licence, as events for months past, especially in the East End, prove that Fascist and other demonstrations have put thousands of inoffensive folk in terror. Personal freedom will, after all, be rather helped than hindered, except the socalled freedom that is unworthy of the name.