DISAPPEARANOE OF THE "GAQ" CLAUSE

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12583, 2 October 1908, Page 4

DISAPPEARANOE OF THE "GAQ" CLAUSE

The Legislative Council performed a useful service in striking out the "gagging clause from the Second Ballot Bill, lhe obnoxious clause provided that "during the interval between the first and second ballots it shall not be lawful for any candidate at the second ballot or any other person to print, publish, exhibit or distribute, or cause to be printed, published, exhibited, or distributed, any advertisement notice, address, article or other document with intent to promote, procure, advocate, oppose or prevent the election of any, candidate at the second ballot, or to influence or procure the vote of any elector at the second ballot." lhe Premier endeavoured to persuade the House that the newspapers could, notwithstanding the above proviso, during the interval between the ballots, criticise the Government, its policy, and its works, or criticise- the Opposition in sny way they thought fit. The sole object of newspaper criticism. during the interval between the ballots would be to influence the electors to vote for ona candidate ot the other because of their support of or opposition to the Government and its policy, and how could the Press possibly criticise without influencing, votes. The idea is absurd. Tho "gag" is plainly evident in the clause, and in thus objecting to the curtailment of the liberty of the Press of the Dominion the Legislative Council has conferred a boon on the whole community, for the "gagging" of the Press means a restriction upon individual liberty.