FREE SPEECH

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 129, 26 May 1932, Page 2

FREE SPEECH

W.E.A. EXTOLLED FA R’.l l rc ’ I DEFENCE H Wo must take a strong stand against insidious attempts to prevent free expression of public opinion/-' said a delegate at the Farmers’ Union Conference. A short lecture on economic problems and the work and objects of the Workers’ Educational Association was given the conference by Mr N. M. Richmond, Auckland director of the asociation. * * Those of us concerned with education consider it is our duty to throw ■everything else aside and concentrate on economic problems,” said Mr Richmond. “Much has been said about equality of sacrifice, but that is begging the question whether sacrifice is necessary. It almost appears that peer pie are enjoying the slump. They are so lackadaisical about the pressing matters of the day. They don’t seem to worry about the fact that their living conditions have been affected. They all

have a solution for the problems, but they are not prepared to come forward with same.’’

A suggestion was made by Mr W. Boyd (Matangi) that Schools for the clucation of members of Parliament in economic matters should be set up in Wellington. i ; Impartial to Criticism The impartiality of the W.E.A. was referred to by Mr Richmond. “My organisation has no hesitation in criticising any system it thinks requires criticism,” he said. “It appears that nowadays anyone criticising a, system is a Communist. If that is so, I am a Communist. There seems to be an impression abroad that certain institutions are divinely appointed.” “I would like to commend the work of the W.E.A.,” said, Mr J. H. Furniss (Huntly) “Atempts are being made to undermine the W.E.A. in New Zealand because they are telling>the truth. It is the duty of the Farmers’ Union to support it to the fullest extent.” Mr J. Dunning: We seem to be going back to mediaeval times. We must take a strong stand against insidious at-

tempts to prevent free expression of public opinion. Criticism of the Government’s action in banning certain books because they told the truth was voiced' by Mr A. Woods (Whangarei). The conference decided to give whole-hearted support to the W.E.A.