GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF PUBLIC THOUGHT.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 137, 26 June 1937, Page 4

GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF PUBLIC THOUGHT.

Holdifig that the euppresgion of free speech is one of the most dangerous elements of European dictatorships Zealandie, the Gatholic organ, in a recent editorial strongly criticises the attitude of the New Zealand Government toward broadbastifag alid newspapers. . ' ' The situation is ohe pf the gravest impOrtanee, ' ' says the editorial. "For the offical mentality that has been associated with the B stations affair is by no means an isolated indication of what may possibly happen. Within the past few months there have been evidOnces to suggest that the idea of an organised drive toward a wide measiire of direetivo control over the public thought is workifig tentatiVely but positively in the governmental mifid. As instancing this we may refor to, among other things, the public pronouncements of Mr Savage and Mr Parry concerning the daily Press and the public libraries. "The whole question of governmental control with its potentialities fot the suppression of freedom of speech is one that calls for immediate and concerted consideration. Throughout the world there has arisen the principle of dictatorship established and maintained by the unscrupulous flixiging-overboard of democratic rightfe and traditions. In every case this was matie possible by the prompt Control of the means of publicity. What should tave been the channels for the expression of validly free . opinion became simply the means whereby a particular regime suggesting anything. "We arb not so absurd as that conditions in New Zealand are coinparable to those adduced. Thfis far the people of the Dominidn have enjoyed an admirable degree and pattern of liberty. But, Conversely, a glance at present conditions in Europe provides most powerful inA*ttive to the preservation of those ideals, those principles, those practical rights, which are claimed to be the mark of British constitutioiial government and which are the boagt of the British peoples. It ia for the citTzen of tb-day to be alert in safegilarding them, and the gOvernmental attitude is likely to be followed with unusually keen interest. "