CRITICISM SHOULD NOT BE STIFLED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 47, 18 November 1937, Page 9

CRITICISM SHOULD NOT BE STIFLED

Press Association.)

Freedom of Press Must Not Be Reduced BUSINESS MEN SHOULD' SPEAK OUT

(Bv Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, Last Night. "I do not believe any sane Governtnont would interfere with the freedonr 'of the Press," said Mr. Prank Goldberg, manging director of the Goldberg Advertising Agency, who was to-day in Wellington on a tour of his New Zsaland branches, in an interview. Ho stressed the value of free criticisin in maintaining democratie government. "Personally I do not object to the inforced signing of articles provided they are political and that both sides are .allowed to express their own views," he said. "This is the "position. In Anstralia and no difficulty has ever arisen, but when it comes to stifiing the Ereedom of the press .in its ' editorial tolumns, then the liberty of the people is being interfered with and a dictatorihip created. {iI am. definitely opposed to any form of dietatorship or any attempt at interference with the liberty of the people. .That is what brings about com- 1 munism and all the other isms, which j are most undesirable in any English- ' speaking country. I believe the people of Kew Zealand would bitterly resent any interference of this description, and I do not believe that any , sane Government would interfere with the freedom of the press." Mr. Goldberg said he considered it quite unnecessary. The fear of being victimised even now prevented many prominent men of sound views from voicing their political opinpions. For [ the good of the country they should speak out. "More confidence in their own country -should be shown by New Zealand 's business leaders," he said. "Only by expressing their views can they help to solve the problems confronting this wonderful country. Everywhere I have been the leading business men in conversation put^forward very sound views on the political and commercial situation, but when it comes to giving public expression to these view.s all adopted a scared attitude of silencfe, Whereas if onlv they were to analyse the position, it would do both the Government and country in general a j great deal of lasting good. • | "I don't think this Government would victimise anybody who honestly was out ior the betterment of country, better living conditions, better homea ^ and a better outlook generally. . ! "In Australia the Lyons , Go vernmenl bitroduced many sociaL services which gan be classed as under the true Laboui banner and gave xeal benefits' to the people. I feel the same thing can be gaid of any genuine Government, but there is always a degree where economic standards must be taken very carefully into consideration to-avoid infla- ■ tionary measures and derogatory comment, which might affect the very high jtanding New Zealand holds in Englaud and all parts of the world. "The whole of the world to-day is in ; a turmoil, experimenting bliqdly and i hoping for the best. Australia is one i outstanding eiample of a country I which, under sane Government has ! found its equilibrium and, regained j prosperity in a very convincing manner. I hav® observed in New Zealand since my last visit a certain amount of apathy — a 'don't care' attitude to public affairs, which is, in my opinion, entirely wrong. "Every good citizen is keenly interested in affairs of his country, so that he may see it properly conducted and right management employed to bring about those improved conditions always desired by the people even in [this lovely Dominion,.' '