GET THIS ON YOUR MIND

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2951, 20 October 1925, Page 3

GET THIS ON YOUR MIND

REAIEAfiBER. AT THE POLLING

BOOTH. It. was decided the other day, in a Federal Court of the U.S.A., that a Prohibition officer may seize baggage and examine it, or may enter a house and search it, WITHOUT A WARRANT.

Needless to say, the New Zealand Prohibition Party has not announced this decision. It would far rather that the electors knew nothing about it; it qneers their pitch—gives the lie to their vapourings. They know that the law they are trying to force upon this Dominion is modelled on the American law, they know that it is just as severe, more narrow, and more farreaeliing than the American law; they know that it will operate just as the American law is operating — to the destruction of personal liberty, to the increase of crime and general lawlessness. If it were not a serious and pathetic situation one could laugh at it. The poor, short-sighted meddler in other people’s affairs would be happy when an . officer broke into a man’s home or opened a man’s suitease and found a bottle of brandy. He would feel that the glorious result justifies the enormity of the method.

Personal liberty is a matter of transcendental importance. The security of Government, the existence of civilisation depends upon its maintenance.

Hold fast to liberty. Strike out the two bottom lines. Advt. 9.