THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1947. "INDONESIA CALLING"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26558, 5 September 1947, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1947. "INDONESIA CALLING"

A vital matter of principle appears to be involved if the published report is correct that the release of the film “ Indonesia Calling ” has been indefinitely held up on the instruction of the Prime Minister. It is the principle of the freedom of speech, in this instance as it applies to political freedom. The film is a piece of propaganda produced on behalf of the Australian Waterside Workers’ Union to defend their ban on Dutch shipping which was imposed as long ago as October, 1945. This action, which was freely described as “ Communist inspired,” resulted in a substantial trade loss to the Commonwealth and had embarrassing diplomatic repercussions. The union defied the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Commonwealth Government and eventually a compromise was arrived at by which relief food ships were permitted to sail under the supervision of a representative of the trade unions. It was a striking example of the manner in which sectional interests in a key trade union defied the law and actually influenced the external policy of a Government. A film produced under such auspices cannot be expected to be a valuable or an impartial examination of its subject, and few people are likely to accept without reservations the version which is presented. Further, the story it tells is hardly worth telling now for subsequent events have completely changed the picture. But the merit or worthlessness of the film is not the point at issue. The film has been shown in various countries overseas, and it was released in Australia after the Federal Cabinet had attended a screening of it. It was apparently sent to New Zealand for commercial presentation. The usual procedure is for such films to be submitted to the Government film censor, but in this instance the Prime Minister decided to see the film himself before authorising the censor to permit its release. Several weeks have now passed without any action being .taken. The Prime Minister’s action is one of unpardonable presumption. He has usurped the authority of the official censor and set himself up as the sole arbiter of whether the New Zealand public is to be permitted to see the production. This is nothing less than an interference with democratic liberties and is without any shadow of justification, especially in times of peace. If it is desirable to refuse to license the film on the grounds that this would be against the public interest or would tend to throw a false light on a greatly changed situation affecting a friendly nation, there are other ways in which political action can be taken. The Prime Minister has no right to exercise a hidden censorship on films or on any other medium of information or propaganda.