The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1928. THE GREAT CHARTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1928. THE GREAT CHARTER.

Tub Prime Minister called for special mention at the schools yesterday of the anniversary of tho signing of the Magna Charta. This precious document first covering the liberties of Englishmendates back to 1215, so that for over seven centuries the Charter of our liberties has been in force. It is not clear exactly from Mr Coates’ " remarks as telegraphed, just why specini attention should be called to the •j Charter in this year of grace partieu- * laily. Certainly he makes reference 3 to “this age of democracy” and regards

’1 tho Charter as “an important link bcjj tween the citizens of of the British -j Empire and the great American Hc- ‘ public.” The link is not altogether j c ear, for if we recall aright the MayI flower sailed from England to the New 3 England in America so as to enjoy 4 greater liberty. In passing it may be "? questioned whether tho New Englaiul- ] ©rs are enjoying that degree of “libII erty” they Imped for. Even to their i great charter of liberty there lias been j added til© famous amendment, which ' being interpreted spells prohibition—a something which limits the liberty of the subject in Certain aspects. Eng--1 land has escaped «. similar fate so far, though the organisation to bring about prohibition in the fountain land o 7 all i iberty, is active. That, however, is by the way. The Magna. Charta was rung from King John under a threat of war by the Barons of England. There is a. famous picture reproducing the scene to the fancy of the artist. The I King reclines in his chair in sullen ! mood, pen in hand, and before him the fateful .scroll. Round about stand the belligerent Barons, and the King seeing no way of escape—signs, and the great charter of history and for all time becomes effective. Under the charter the principle of constitutional

; government was re-established and the i old freedom endangered by foreign ! Kings on tho English throne, was won >ac-k in a new shape. As history records: “England was England again.” So from tlie reign of the weak King John dates tho birth of the national freedom in its later form. Perhaps it is as well that Mr Coates should remind tlie country that there is such a thing ns liberty to-day. Beading tlie daily paper nowadays suggests that the liberty of the masses is curtailed all too often. The aggressive Labour organisations have written their own character and under the garb of unionism dominate industries and countries. Just now, in Australia, shipping in the main is paralysed' because of a trumpery disagreement about an assistant code for a New Zealand steamer. Almost sido by side with Mr Coates' plea for recalling tho signing of the Magna Charta, there is an Auckland message detailing particulars that a coal proprietor may not employ whom be chooses. Being dissatisfied with one of the workmen, lie exercises what might be thought tho obvious privilege of an employer and dismisses the man. As a consequence a strike results; the remainder of tlie men down tools, and declare the mine “black.” This happens on the eve of the anniversary of the signing of the charter of our liberties ;It is to be hoped Mr Coates notices this form of celebration, and will Ixi' moved to do something to mend matters. In Australia, after trade lias been paralysed for some weeks, and an enormous loss has resulted, the au-

thorities have moved—or rather threatened to move—and so the farce of maintaining the liberties of tlie public proceeds Parliament is scon to meet, and among the business is a revision of the arbitration law. It is to be hoped the Government will write into that law some provision for the safety of the public ps a whole in matters of dispute between employer and employee. Unless something of that nature is done, the Magna Charta will be a document gradually being treated as a scrap of papier. The drift with regard to the matter has gone on quite long enough, and ns tlie whole aspect of arbitration is to be brought under review in a very short time, the Prime Minister, with his knowledge and interest in the liberty of tlie subject assured by the great charter he has referred to, should move definitely, asthe Barons did of old to safeguard the liberties of the subjects, and so allow history to repent itself along necessary’ lines.