LIBERTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18777, 27 October 1932, Page 9

LIBERTY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Excluding the primal instinot for self-preservation and the perpetuation of the species which ensures the preservation of organic life In all its myriad forms, one dominant urge runs through all forms of life from animalculae to sage, the vital need for freedom of action: In the Inarticulate non-human world tills urge is instinctive in obedience to Nature’s laws. When, however, through -the passage of slow ages, the man animal finally attained articulation beyond the mere expression of his elementary animal needs another urge became clamant, the need for self-expression. Man’s ascendancy over all other forms of life was rendered possible only by the development of the herd instinct with its co-ordination of effort for defence and attack. This development, though common to many species, was intensified in man by his attainment of the powers to convey the relatively complex desires and decisions essential to co-ordinated action between the herd members. The interchange of experiences and ideas rendered possible by speech enabled the individual’s discoveries and improvements to weapons, tools etc. to he communicated to his fellows and definitely consolidated as a communal advance in knowledge. Without the power to exchange ideas science would not have been born, nor could civilisation exist. Man would have survived ‘if at all’ as an order little removed from that of the great anthropoid apes. As civilisation had its genesis in man’s ability to transmit or absorb the fruit of discoveries made, so does Its continuance depend upon the free expression of ideas and criticism reacting in the moulding of the social and economic structure in conformity to mankind’s progressive moral and material development. The lime arrived in human history when (lie first tribal chief had reason to fear that ills authority no longer had the undivided approval of his tribe. Maybe he had retained for himself 100 large a share of the spoils of war or otherwise abused his leadership. As his successors down through the ages were to prove, such a state of mind breeds suspicion and fear, resulting inevitably in an attempt to slide any criticism. And so that illfavoured daughter of tyranny, D.O.R.A. (Defenco of the Realm Act), was born. Coincidenlly freedom of speech became a definite objective instead of a vague unrecognised condition. There can be no definition without contrast, and as evil is the negation of good, freedom as a concrete factor emerged from tiie abstract, with the imposition of restrictions. Freedom of thought can indeed defy chains, but unless the mind can impart its message, passing on and reacting to the stimulus of oilier minds it ceases to be a factor in the life of the world. It will be seen, therefore, that upon the maintenance of freedom of speech rests all hope for the spiritual and material advancement of mankind. Front the dawn of history, in his painful pilgrimage through the ages, man has poured out his blood in defence of liberty, dying heroically by (lame and steel, rotting in prison, forgotten and alone, that man should be free. “The freedom our forefathers died for is being tllohed from us.” Captain Rushworth. in bis speeeli at the W.K.A. dinner (a speech which moved his hearers deeply), warned us at the bonds whicli are being steadily fasiened upon us. Warned us that legislation which in effect reintroduced the sinister Star Chamber of Charles I. had been passed during the lasi session of Parliament in New Zealand. The specious plea as ancient as it is

false ‘ For the public good’ was as of old used to whiten the sepulchre. Only by unfettered criticism and interchange of Ideas can the economic and social structure be progressively adjusted to the needs of developing humanity. Repression of criticism is the final refuge of bureaucratlo medloorlty which fears the truth. It is a great pity that this type of mind has always been Impervious to the lesson of history; its prototype is the nigger who sat on the safety valve of the boiler. He kept In the steam untdl the increasing pressure destroyed both boiler and nigger. We are urged to support "stable government." Unfortunately “stability” Is interpreted politically as being resistant to change, Its characteristic is that of the nigger. This type of government' is in essentials unsuitable owing to its rigidity and Its Inability to adjust itself to humanity’s needs provoking violent reactions. The only “stable Government," to use a paradox,® Is one flexible and sensitive to change, adjusting Its machinery to man’s social and eoonomio requirements. Especially is this true to-day, in an age of phenomenal scientific and material progress,’ necessitating progressive economic and social readjustments. The "stable minded” class which largely controls the goverments of to-day are impervious to new Ideas. Unable to readjust their mental outlook they adopt a resistant policy, which if persisted in will inevitably drench the world In blood. The Publlo Safety Conservation Act, 1932, is an Illustration of this type of mind in New Zealand. Astounding as the attempt to re-dntroduoe Star Chamber methods is, the passive acceptance by otherwise intelligent men, of this betrayal of the liberties for which our forefathers fought and died, is even more astounding. Shall we again see the noisome system of spies and informers established, and as Kipling said; — " He shall peep and mutter And the night shall bring Watchers ’neath your window Lest ye mock the King." Unless the policy of intimidation now in operation in the civil service and universities Is met with determined opposition it will be extended to enmesh all who displease our pinchbeck Mussolinis. Let no man or woman delude themselvt)3 that the present attack on freedom of speech is no concern of theirs. Liberty is not destroyed at a hlow. The process is gradual and stealthy, yet the day surely comes when man wakes to find the shining one has gone and through .the windows of the temple glare satyrs. Will the ohurches, whose. Master died for truth and liberty; who scourged money changers from the temple; take up the challenge? Will our intellectual leaders stand fast for freedom or must the rank and file, $ .leaderless legion, pay the price in and tears until at long last liberty has again been redeemed? I am, etc., — J. H. FURNISS. Huntly, Oct. 20.