SEDITIOUS LITERATURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1921, Page 4

SEDITIOUS LITERATURE.

The public will commend the position taken up by the Government in connection with the circulation of seditious literature. In reply to Mr. Holland, the Acting-Premier says it is “neither unlawful nor seditious to advocate the wildest forms of socialism or communism, but it is unlawful to advocate murder and violence as legitimate methods for the attainment of political ends.” We are a very tolerant people, and suffer cranks of all descriptions, though not very gladly. At last, however, we are drawing the line at propaganda of the I.W.W. and" Bolshevik character. Many of those ■ who take part in the propaganda are simply deluded fools; they are unaware that it is loaded with dynamite. Not so most of the leaders. They know the nature of the charge, and are prepared to go through a welter of blood in order to obtain their objective. They realise that free men will not allow themselves to be despoiled of their rights and property without putting up a vigorous fight. Both classes of men —the deluded and the cognisant—are equally dangerous to the State, and it is good to see the Government alive to the danger and prepared to deal effectively with it. In a country like this, where there is perfect liberty and ample opportunities for all, one would think there would be no field for the growth of anarchistic elements. In truth they are not generally a local production; they are exoties. The problem is how best to deal with them. To deport them would perhaps be the shortest cut to social and industrial rest, which is required if the country is to develop and progress and pay its way. In the past these baneful elements have had no difficulty in entering the country, but in future it will be a much more difficult matter. The new law provides that every individual entering New, Zealand in future will be required to take an oath of allegiance or obedience. This applies to all British subjects or foreigners over fifteen years of age proposing to enter the country for any purpose whatever, whether as permanent residents or visitors. Under this provision, every British subject, whether by birth or by naturalisation, is required to take the oath of allegiance, and foreigners to take the oath of obedience to the laws of New Zealand. Strictly speaking, of course, the demand made by the Act, as far as the British subjects are concerned, is a work of supererogation, for the oath of allegiance is an inalienable part of British citizenship. Nevertheless, there is often much virtue in emphasis, and New Zealand is determined in the matter of regulating immigration, to be quite emphatic, especially in view of the disturbing elements against which it now has to contend.