ONE PAN LEGISLATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 26, 9 March 1942, Page 4

ONE PAN LEGISLATION

DO we ever pause to realise the tremendous readjustment which must be made after the war, if we are to recapture anything resembling our ok!, standards of fieedom and in cM.er.dence. War legislation has given unheard-of powers to individuals, against whose decision there is no redress or appeal. As a belligerent country, fully seized with the seriousness of the situation, there has been little or no protest raised against these appointments., for it is realised that it is probably in the best interests of the country that they have been made. The fact remains however that with every 'Controller' in office new and, absolute powers are placed in the hands of individuals. The rise of the military school, so essential of course, has probably had a disciplinary ci'Vee.: upon Lhe population as a whole. Manpower Courts and Appeal Boards, carry their own weight in this direction. Oil-fuel Controllers, Lighting Controllers etc., all have the;i rcsj telive spheres of influence, nobody dreams of questioning them. But the fact remains that each of these departments having once felt the nature of their power and control, will be loath to relax their grip unless the voice of the people is heard in no uncertain manner. Democracy is based upon the independence and free-will of the individual, and unless these powers are restored we will have fought in vain. War positions, so necessary now should not be overlooked in the future by their retention, for the danger in dealing witi the average person, is that memory is short-lived and that each new imposition, necessary or otherwise, is liable t"'b'3 tolerated as a permanent part of the country's legislation.