Touching freedom of Speech.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4627, 7 May 1915, Page 2

Touching freedom of Speech.

THE report from Auckland of a fine imposed for the sending of unauthenticated war news affords a further example of the blame falling on the shoulders of the comparatively innocent. The sender of the censured telegram acted in all good faith. She had been told that a notice on the “Herald” board estimated New Zealand losses at 700 killed, and she tried to forward the news to an interested person in Hawke’s Bay. In the past she would have been within her rights in doing this, for the number of false reports that are circulated in times of peace without any basis whatever and without penalty, is appalling. It is really one of the less pernicious effects of war that it puts some curb on the liberty to proclaim without any responsibility news that is mischievous in import or glaringly untrue. It is not freedom, but anarchy of speech to shout from the housetops, to wit from street corners in gossip, from post offices in letters and across the teatable in prattle, table talk or street rumour that cannot be traced to its source. That we are now liable to a fine of TIOO is a very salutary reflection stimulating us to some purpose to hold our tongues.