A PLEA FOR FREEDOM.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1923, Page 2

A PLEA FOR FREEDOM.

(Rangitikei Herald). While our soldiers were fighting and dying for freedom and all citizens were making sacrifices to preserve it, the politicians wero restraining every nerve to shackle tho liberties of tho people and destroy their freedom, and we have smeo been painfully reminded that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. No doubt these politicians were at that time actuated by the l>est motives, but as the poet said, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, and politicians aro at best but blunderers. The people patriotically submitted to all sorts of restrictions and war regulations, expecting, of course, that these would be but temporary measures, to be discontinued u.s soon as the apparent necessity for them ended. But they did not reckon on the lust for power that was being engendered by the practice of restriction and control, which became so irresistible to those “drest in a little brief authority,” who found such keen pleasure in strutting as rulers, ami acting as tyrants, that they have shown not only great reluctance to repeal the restrictions, but have greatly increased them. At the present moment there is little individual freedom and the liberties of the people have been whittled away, so that almost every action is under the control of Jaeks-in-oftico. The restrictions are innumerable, irritating, and in many cases aggravating, besides being quite unnecessary now. Things have got to such a state that very little can be done without the sanction of a Munster. Even if a person desires to visit another adjacent country under the British flag, which used to be an emblem of freedom, lie must first obtain the permission of a Minister or some one of these Jaeks-hi-office. If he is a poultrvman and wants to feed his fowls,‘the Minister’s permission lias to be obtained. If lie is a land user, and lias a tree growing on Ins property, the timber of which he desires to sell, He cannot fell it unless a Minister consents, and this is a very recent. development of bureaucracy since the institution of the otherwise useful and beneficial Forestry Department. It would require the space of many columns to give a list of the almost innumerable restrictions that have been placed on liberty, and it is surely time that the people aroused themselves to assert their freedom and insist on the complete abolition of these tyrannous laws, that mnko our recent sanguinary struggle for freedom a hideous farce. The need has arisen for the establishment of a, Liberty League, to ensure the removal of shackles that have been forged by political upstarts, leaving m> means untried to restore wliat out so - diers and our forefathers fought toi, even if Parliament- House lias to bo stormed, as the French Revolutionists stormed the Bastille. We have permitted the politioans to use democracy to produce greater tyranny than tnnt which was developed by tiie Ficni.h aristocracy, and it is time a ‘village lampden” or another Cromwell arose. The politicians, who have been pampered with huge salaries and various privileges, must 1)0 taught that tic proper government of a free people does not imply tyrannical methods of restriction nor perpetual inspection by the officials of the Bumbledom.