THE RIGHT TO WITHHOLD INFORMATION

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1932, Page 6

THE RIGHT TO WITHHOLD INFORMATION

"Perhaps amid the multitude o£. correspondence backing Mr. Macintosh, appearing in your columns, you may grant privilege to one humble dissentient to express -his view?"-(writes.'John. Tucker). "No. one, not even Mr. P. Fraser, lias attacked the integrity or character o£ Mr. Macintosh. To attach stubbornness with ago-in relation to any public duty performed' by public men is more a matter of:fact in direct connection with a particular action than defamation.' The volume of steam allowed to smother the intel 7 lectual outlook of those responsible for the public meeting held at the*" Farmers' Instituto has now been converted into a camouflaging smoke screen of political propaganda. The public, want the truth. Why give them steam? Mr. Macintosh accepted the warrant of a commissioner granting him powers and privileges and authorising: or, requiring the performance of certain acts, knowing that it was the privilege of the representative of the King and the Government to demand a, truthful and full report of his actions within the, scope o£ the order o£ reference of the inquiry. The fundamental characteristic of a minority report, •or an addendum, is the submission of a clear and explicit course of reasoning for taking such action. To refuse,deliberately the fullest information is to defeat the object of a costly inquiry. If the public are going to back commissioners who will not divulge the source of their information to King or Government under warrant of ■ privileges, ■ how in the name of common sense can those powers apply the findings of such: inquiries. There "is no honour in the boast of one man beating a government when that one man is beating the'public through their accredited representatives' in Parliament by: withholding information lie pledged to/give and was paid for giving. When a man*."takes' the warrant of the Grown as a commissionersto inquire- and report upon matters vital'to the. interest of a nation he is expected to deny self and serve'his King, and through the King the people. If we are in .future to follow the dietums of Mr. Macintosh's friejids, as expressed via a public meeting in Wellington, it will be the privilege of future Eoyal Commissions to retain for themselves any part, of their-findings suitable 'to themselves:" ' ; •. :