THE AGITATOR AND FREE SPEECH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1357, 7 February 1912, Page 5

THE AGITATOR AND FREE SPEECH.

THE THREAT TO "THE DOMINION." IBy Telcßraph.—Snccial Correspondent.! Ghristchurcli, February (I. In the eouiM' of an editorial on the Wellington strike, (he "l'rcss". deals with Mr. W, 1 , . Young's throat with regard to Tins Dominion', and his remark: "Wβ must have tail' play." The "Vμ**" says: ".Mr. Vouiig's idea of fair play is, we trust, peculiar lit himself. It tbii.-ists apparently in refusing to sign an iigrament which 'hn had previously accepted, and (lion makiitg absolutely grouudle>* chaws of breach of faith agaiiist tho other tide ill order l« iurmVli an excuse for Jiis conduct, iitid further, in threatening to prevent the publication of a paper ,that lias the courage to speak its mind. Wo decline, to Iwheve that this is the averago worker's idra of fair play, or that any considerable proportion of the unionist's of A't'W Zealand would endorse the policy suggested byJlr. Young's threat. JI" wi> thought they did, we should bo forced to beliovo iliat liberty of Hjieech as now understood would be doomed if a labour Uovernmont ever came into power. Our cmilrtiiparary opposed 'tho strike, aild Criticised the action, of those who fomented it, but it said nothing that was beyond the bounds of fair comment on a matter of great public interest. Mr. Young's threat gained him a round of iipplausc, but that is easily secured under such conditions. It is nbl, however, Hie applause of an unthinking crowd pleased tu liavo it-s cars titklcd by bbmbastio litnguago that counts in I lie end, and Mr. Young's mort soljer-miudod colleague in Labour circles must regret that he should havo made a thrreit bo well caleillntcd to (liiniiigc thd <anse of Lalfonr in the public's eyiA"