FREE SPEECH.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7917, 11 August 1917, Page 3

FREE SPEECH.

RESTRICTIONS OF THE WAR REGULATIONS. MR WEBB WANTS AN AMENDMENT. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, Last night. Mr P. C. Webb, in asking leave to Introduce the War Regulations Amendment Bill, said that some of the finest men in the Dominion were at present behind iron bars because of the rigid nature of the War Regulations. There was not a drop of German blood in these men, and they were in no sense German agitators, Though they strove to avoid industrial trouble, they were in gaol. He considered it was to the advantage of the Dominion that they (Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward) were out of the country when the conscription strike took place on the West Coast, because the men left behind showed a more statesmanlike view of the position than those two Ministers ever took. They used conciliatory measures, and were assisted by some of the leaders of the men. Yet within a week of the strike being settled the men who' ordered the Blackball men back to work were put in prison. If those men chose to raise their little finger they could plunge the country in industrial trouble to-morrow. He detailed the proceedings in connection with the recent strike, and claimed his personal efforts were all in the direction of peace. He worked day and night with Ministers to avert trouble. The worst he and others put in gaol had done was to criticise the Government. He challenged any Minister to question his action in connection with the strike.. Mr J. McCombs, in supporting the motion, declared that one accused person had been convicted for no greater offence than quoting the New Testament. If one man was sent to gaol for quoting the Bible, other men, including Mr Isitt, should be convicted for selling them. On a division, leave to introduce the Bill was refused by 34 votes to 10.