The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1927. MORE FREEDOM.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1927. MORE FREEDOM.

In the thought for the times to-day there is printed an election echo from one of Sir Joseph Ward’s speeches in the Raglan contest. In that election Sir Joseph showed a return to his host form, and in his fluent way hit off many political aspects of the times which must have found a re-echoing sympathy in the minds Of many readers. His advocacy for more freedom will certainly have evoked responsive echoes. What he suggested was freedom from Government influence. It lias been the custom, notably since the war, to trespass on the freedom of the people in a very embarassing way. The effect was recognised even by Mr Coates and his party, and readers will recall that at the time of the last general election one of the Reform slogans was “I/ess Government in business and more business in Government.” That ideal is not being lived up to, and so there has been a growth of interference bv the Government in business and of Government by Orders-in-Council, to the extent that there is the revolt in the minds of many people up and down the Dominion. This fact was emphasised during the Raglan contest from several platforms, and it would not be surprising if the votes could lie analysed, that the Government lost many votes in the election, because it has failed to live up to its slogan call. The encroachment on the public freedom is to he found in various walks of life, hut whether it originates in the desire of departmental officials to extend the scope of their duties and magnify their positions, or comes from Ministers themselves, the policy of interference with business is there, and the public are troubled and inconvenienced accordingly. And then there is the centralisation move, another attack on public freedom. Those who value individual freedom and local control must be vigilant. It seems too much to hope for genuine reforms from the present Government. For two years the Ministry has. failed to live up to its election slogan, despite the fact of many reminders, some of them from a very influential quarter. The legislation for the past ton years, covering the aftermath of the war, is in need of a general overhaul in relation, both to local bodies and private business, and the public interests of the country would lie the better for such a combing out. Sir Joseph Ward’s strictures on the matter, to which we referred at the outset, set out the position very concisely and more freedom must he made a real principle in the Liberal political platform of the future for the public benefit.