FREEDOM DEMANDED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 28, 3 February 1938, Page 8

FREEDOM DEMANDED

PARTY OPENS CAMPAIGN PROFESSOR ALGIE SPEAKS ATTACK ON GOVERNMENT L., L Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Feb. 2. An enthusiastic audience of more than 500 people heard the opening of the campaign of the Aucxianu Provincial i reeuom Association tonight, when Professor Algie, delivered an address at a PukeKOhe picture theatre. The Mayor of PukeKone, Mr C. K. Lawrie, presided and the meeting, which gave Mr Aigxe an uninterrupted heaung, applauded loudly at the conclusion.

“It is a remarkable thing that witnin 10U years of Lie foundation oi the Dominion it. mould nave been thought necessary to establish a freedom association, Mr Algie said, ihc pioneers came to New Zealand bringing their religion, phiiosopny, and tiivir conception ot British ireedom, end to-day the country is faced with the necessity ot establishing a league Io defend tnat freedom waicn teems to be rapidly slipping away. “Democracy is on the deiensive all over the civilised world,” he contil ued, "though it is admitted by al. ,wno tnink that it is the ideal form oi. ■government." ThA people had been brought up tc think tnat democracy meant one man one vote, but it was far more; it was B priceless heritage and a philosophy Of life. 'iney haa ine principle ol one plan one vote but were fast losing defiocracy. Sixty odd million Germans au lost their liberty, lhere were no newspapers in Ge cm nay as New Zealand Knew mem, and no open street borner meetings. Unless ’-he people got up and said things the Government wanted them to say there was fro free discussion. Pictures and litera|ure were chosen by the Government and the people put up with it because the alternative was a concentration tamp and death. It was the same thing in Italy. Though things were not as bad in |Jcw Zealand, were the people prebared to say that they would not oe L bad in 10 years? And, if so, were they not unduly optimistic? Mr Algie ksked. Had he said 10 yean, ago tnat there would come a time u nen a farmer who worked to proauce something would have no say in the sale »f it he would have been laughed at. Who controlled broadcasting in New Zealand? And to whose policy were Jiey listening that day? he inquired. “Because we have lost faith in democracy we are apathetic and letting t slide from us,” Mr Algie continued, t was collectivism, however, that hey were getting in New Zealand—a ystem by which the people were govmed by experts v/no Believed tney :new what was best for the country. Is the Government of this country in he hands of the many or do you be ieve it is more definitely in the hands f a few?” he askea. “Would I be ery w r rong if I considered that it is ery definitely influenced by executive fficers of the trade unions? (Cries of No!”). 1 am not going to condemn rade unionism but I will condemn ome of the uses to which it has been mt.” Mr Algie criticised various pieces if legislation enacted by the Government and detailed the aims of the asfeciation. At the conclusion the meethg was askea to indicate by applause feat it stood firm for the principles Enunciated by Mr Algie. There was an Enthusiastic response.