BANNED SOCIALIST PUBLICATIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 28 July 1919, Page 6

BANNED SOCIALIST PUBLICATIONS

A LABOUR PROTEST

Tbfl following telegram of protest against the prohibition of South African Socialist publications, and the suppression of tho Auckland Jugo-Slav Labour journal, has been sent to Sir James Allen, Minister ol' Defence, by three Labour members of Parliament, Messrs. H. I). Holland. K, Seinple, and P. Eraser '"We wish to cuter tho strongest possible protest against tho prohibition, announced in tho daily papers, ot the South African Labour and Socialist journal. tlxe "International," and other publications of the South African Socialist movement. , Whatever alleged excuses theio may have been during the war for copying the repressive methods of t'rus-sia-'and Russia _of the old regime, there are certainly none now; and we resent the menace of a policy which threatens to prevent the working men of this counti v from learning through democratic channels what tho working, men of other countries aro thinking and doing. Wo alO confident the people of this country aic not prepared to consent, to Cabinet choosing their reading for them, and we a!;o think there is cause tor apprehension that the dangerous policy of repression will not lie eon fined to democratic publications from without. Indeed, the recent suppression of the Jugo-Slav Laboar iouvnal in the north strengthens this apprehension. Finally, we_ confess ive cannot appreciate a policy which permits a Government supporter to openly an 1 without fear of (lie consequences, proclaim himself in favour of armed rebellion in certain contingencies, and which at the same time refuses admission to a political journal of workingclass interests from another country, and also suppresses a harmless local publication."