WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

AVAR REGULATIONS

A FURTHER PROTEST’

(Our Special Correspondent;

AVELLINGTON, May 4

The deputation from the New Zenana Alliance of Labour, which waited upon Sir Francis Bell on Alonday with a request for the revocation of certain War Regulations intended to prevent the circulation of seditious literature, found thp Acting Prime Minister no more sympathetic than lie had been a week earlier in his reply to a similar petition addressed to him by Mr li. K. Holland. The burden of the deputation’s complaint was that the prohibition interfered with the freedom ot thought and speech, barred the way to the knowledge and created the very evils it was designed to prevent. Incidentally it joined with Mr Holland in asking for the release of the man Johnstone now undergoing a term 6f imprisonment for a breach of the' regulations. Sir Francis was as courteous as he always is on such occasions, hut he was firm and emphatic in his refusal to withdraw the ban from the prohibited literature. The individual, ho reiterated in effect, was free to think what he pleased and to say what lie thought, short of advocating violence in the enforcement of his views. At that point the law stepped in and the law must he respected.

THE OTHER SIDE

Probably There is something to say on the other side. Tt was stated by Mr Holland and by the deputation that waited u ;>on .Sir Francis Bell on Monday that certain literature banned *in New Zealand under the AVer Regulations was circulated without let or hindrance in Australia and in the Mother Country. Sir Francis did not deny this statement, but broadly implied that the' Alotlier Country having a 'standing army available for the maintenance of law and order could afford to take greater risks in this respect than New Zealand could. The suggestion that restrictive regulations are made necessary in the Dominion by the insufficiency of its police protection is more likely to provoke a smile than to create alarm, but apparently the Minister was speaking.in all earnest ness. Then it is alleged by people protesting against the censorship that the edict- of prohibition is pronounced, not on the Minister’s own knowledge of the publications concerned, but on the report. of an officer of his Department that much of the banned literature is as easily procurable- as, say, the latest shilling shocker. OUT OF WORK. The new Public Service Commissioner. Air R. AY. Morris, is as indignant as a genial Government official well can be at a statement made at the recent meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association-alleging that the heads of Departments were disregarding his instruction that in filling vacancies preference should be given to returned soldiers. What is happening, he says, is tlie inevitable effect of the institution of necessary economies. A special officer is going round the various Departments finding out where money can he saved and is lopping off expenditure here, there, and everywhere when it can be done without impairing the efficiency of the • service. Naturally when it comes to a choice between a fully qualified officer who lias given his life to the public service, and a returned soldier, who has been taken on temporarily whilo he looks around for permanent employment, the latter must go. Practically jjthere are no positions to fill, and a great many to empty, so that the process of readjustment never has conflicted with the Commissioner’s instructions. But Mr Morris is earnestly concerned for the welfare of the returned soldier and wherever possible he is making provision for him. PREVENTION BETTER THAN , CURE.

Dr AV. E. Herbert, one of Wellington’s most capable and courageous medical men, who takes a broad view of his profession’s obligations to the community, talked rank socialism to the Hospital Commission during its sitting here yesterday. In reply to a question from a professional member of

the Commission he said the proper evolution of the whole medical service would he towards nationalisation and towards the concentration of its chief efforts on the prevention of disease. “If 'public health is, ns- I believe, our greatest national asset, then,” he declared, “with wisdom and with prudence there should be no limit to the Government’s spending power, hut I am strongly of opinion that the money should be used rather in practical pre■j ventative measures which not only built up tlie body and fortified it against disease, but also strengthened tho mental and moral fibre of the individual and so ameliorated tlie conditions of the whole race. It was a hopefill' gospel, tho doctor proclaimed, and one that must have appealed to the members of the Commission.