LIBERTY AND LICENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24226, 19 February 1940, Page 6

LIBERTY AND LICENCE

It is a pertinent question that the Prime Minister discussed in his broadcast address last evening, when he sought to define the mean between liberty and licence. In time of peace, the issue is one that scarcely arises. The democracies, among which this Dominion is numbered, enjoy a civil code that operates to allow to the individual the

greatest freedom of views, and the privilege of giving expression to them. His actions, similarly, are unrestrained so long as he does not offend against his neighbours. The grim event of war inevitably demands that the democratic State shall ask of its citizens a stricter observance of their responsibilities as members of a community in which the rule of the majority is the rule of law. This, necessity may be regretted, as curtailing to some extent the ideal of the democratic way of life. But should any man, benefiting under a system of government than which there is none better in the world, be so thoughtless of the decision of the majority of his cocitizens, and so heedless of their desires and. interests, as to abuse the privileges of free citizenship that democracy confers on all? The answer of the Prime Minister is that

he should not, and cannot, be allowed to do so. Mr Savage’s declaration, though couched in 59016what abstract terms, undoubtedly expresses the decision of the majority of the New Zealand people. They have no desire, and doubtless the Government has no desire, to prevent any part of the community from legitimately exercising their rights. But in a time of emergency the theorists and malcontents must be made to refrain from dangerous incitements and from actions that may be inimical to the State —and hence to the system of democracy itself. This war is, in the Prime Minister’s phrase, a war in defence of free institutions, and it is no service to freedom’s cause to endeavour to obstruct the war effort. In exercising its authority, which is strongly safeguarded by war regulation, for the restraining of misguided or subversive elements in the community, the Government requires to be guided by considerations of tolerance. It must, moreover, exercise care that disaffected persons or groups shall not be allowed to obtain a form of cheap martyrdom through restraint Of their foolish activities. But no Government could, in the circumstances which confront democracy to-day, afford to neglect the duty of controlling, and, if necessary, of dealing in uncompromising fashion, with those who may deliberately disregard the responsibilities of good citizenship. It is well that Mr Savage has made clear his Government’s determination that it will permit no abuse of that freedom which is the most cherished possession of the democratic peoples.