The N. Z. Times TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1908. LIBERTIES IN DANGER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6625, 15 September 1908, Page 4

The N. Z. Times

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1908. LIBERTIES IN DANGER

HITH WHICH IS INOODPOIUTKD THE ” WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT.” I'.STABLISHED 1845,

As the Second Ballot Bill stood originally we were not prepared to do more than dissent from the wisdom of its introduction, feeling that tho way was still open to in the future urge adoption of the hotter method of selecting Parliamentary representatives. This is not tho case now, for with its “ gag ” and “ £SO grant ” clauses, introduced hurriedly by Governor’s message in tho middle of tho night when nobody was looking, tho Bill is an iniquity. One 'unfathomable mystery about the "shut-up” provision is that it was passed by tho House without a single reason having been given for its incorporation in the original measure. No reason was given, and no conclusive argument has yet been advanced to justify this insidious attempt to take away tho right of free speech from every man and woman voter in the State. Obviously Sir Joseph Ward and Dr Findlay have failed to grasp tho point of tho criticism levelled at the objectionable clauses of tho Second Ballot Bill. It is not that the press desires any special privilege—it is that Parliament in seeking to deprive the common people of a right their forefathers wrested by force from an arrogant, tyrannical aristocracy is guilty of an act of treachery to the whole community. It is idle for tho Prime Minister to say that 11 proper precautions must bo taken to prevent bribery.” Does he mean to ask the electors to believe that it is a proper precaution against bribery to pass a law restricting the platform from being a place for talking about the very thing the public is most interested in—the return of men to make the laws under which they shall live? Freedom of speech has nothing to do with bribery. What has a good cause to fear from public discussion ? Nothing. What has bribery to fear? Everything. Free discussion is the one thing ignorance intolerantly resents; tho thing the plotter and schemer objects to. But it is, and always will be, tho sword and shield of the people against wrong and oppression.

Can the Prime Minister not see that once his name is connected with this inexcusable attack upon public liberty he will do his own reputation and that of hia followers lasting harm Liberals in Parliament should remember the name and the fame of the party they belong to, and strike these obnoxious clauses from the Bill. If they do not they will assuredly he lashed with whips of scorpions in time to oome. If the Bill reaches the statute book in its present form the Liberal party will have smirched its traditions by a gross attack upon popular rights. It is not yet too late. The Council can to-day throw the obnoxious clauses into the melting-pot, and we urge it to do so —to do something that will give it an everlasting claim on the goodwill o? the country. It is understood that a compromise is to be proposed, giving the press some dubious loophole of escape. The compromise is worse than the original proposition, and the press of New Zealand does not want it. IVhat the newspapers are fighting against just now is a malignant and thrioe-times foolish endeavour to prevent an elector or candidate standing up in a public place and discussing affairs of State. Know ye then not that free speech is

the am Of Poverty P Yea, whoso this shall lose Has thrown away the buckler of his life. i Sill the Legislative Council do its

duty? Will it rid itself once and for all of tho pernicious assumption that the solitary function of New Zealand’s Second Chamber is to register approval of all measures, good, bad, and indifferent, which have their emanation from “the other pl»pe”?