"DEMOCRACY" AND FREE SPEECH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 58, 27 May 1942, Page 4

"DEMOCRACY" AND FREE SPEECH

on whom Democracy depends for its strength should be fully informed. As President of the N.Z. Democracy Association which stands fo> - the right of free speech and expression, as the Editor of a paper advocating constructive reforms, as an official of the N.Z. Social Credit Movement with a representative following throughout the Dominion, and above all as a loyal citizen desperately concerned with, the rapid achievement of a really "worth-while and well-founded victory for Demo*cracy, I appeal to you and bo your readers to sec that justice; and principle am not so recklessly abandoned. In the words of Benjamin Franklin: "They that would give us essential liberty for the : illusion of temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." .

Yours etc., JOHN HOGAN.

Sir,—The Hon. H. G. R. Mason, Attorney-General, has ordered, that the fortnightly journal "Democracy" cease, publication forthwith, and that I as; Editor am prohibited from publishing any periodical in New Zealand. Mr Mason is "satisfied, that subversive statements have been pub- | lished," in that I have actively criticised, the financial and economic policy of the Government and advocated; changesi which, in the opinion of myself and thousands of others in this country, would materially strengthen the war effort and lay a sound basis for post-war reconstruction and security. No charge lias been, preferred against me, as against , others, for publishing the alleged; "subversive) statements." I am simply suppressed. The Government thus violates a great and important* principle? of the freedom we are lighting: to preserve, in defiance of public opinioh . or the decision of a Court. Is thjj *£ spirit of this free nation so decadant that such abuse of power in time of emergency is to be tolerated?. This: autocratic action threaten* the* fundamental liberties, on which our national strength and unity arefounded. I claim the traditional right of every British subject—that the Government shall prove its case against me. in open Coiirt before a common j,ury of my peers. An appeal in camera to, a<. Supreme Court judge could net satisfy the. people of New Zealand. Great and progressive changes in the administration ol" the United Nations and their war effort haveresulted from public demands which could never have arisen without free criti<cism and a free Press. We have. to overcome ruthless totalitarianism,, which scraps orthodoxy for expediency Avi'th appalling speed, and it was never more vital that the- peopla (Continued in previous column)