SUPPRESSING PUBLIC NUISANCES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1566, 9 October 1912, Page 5

SUPPRESSING PUBLIC NUISANCES.

. Sir,—Xot long ago in Australia.a gent'eman oftho (name of Chidley was removed' into confinement as a lunatic.' Tho grounds'of his confinement appear to be that 'he holds certain -views which are at variance with • tho acccpced-views of the great majority of ordinary citizens, and that he can neither be convinced that he is- in error nor prevented, when at large, from preaching his own peculiar toilets. ■Now, sir, if we accept thi.s as a s:ino and civilised tfiethod of suppressing' a mild public nuisance, surely the same treatment might be applied with 'infinitely greater advantage to persons whoso 1110110- . mania,-instead of being a. mere harmless if' annoying scientific heterodoxy, is nn aggressivo and dangerous mania, doing almost incalculable harm -to the liody public. This view appears logical. Why, then, are certain of these Labour Federation/leaders at large?- No one would presume to say that they ■ are capablo of taking a sane and reasonable view in industrial matters. Either Mr. Chidlcy' is tho victim of a gross and cruel injustice, or such people as the gentlemen whoso monomania is putting King's crowns into "melting pots retain their liberty through 1 tho negligence of those whose duty it is to" see that tho mentally afflicted are not allowed at - large to act as public 'nuisances.—l. am, etc., LOGICIAN.