LABOR AND ITS AIMS,

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1921, Page 4

LABOR AND ITS AIMS,

\ TUfl ADVGGAer OF VIOLBMOB.

LAW T 0 BE ENFORCED;

By Teleiraph.—Press Assoeiatien.

Wellington, Last Might. A deputation from the Allianoe of Labor waited on the Acting-Prime Min- k ister and urged the repeal of the remain- > ing war regulations requesting the release of Johnson, recently sentenced to imprisonment for selling seditious literature.

The deputation consisted of Messrs. Mack (railwaymen), Young (Seamen’s Union), Arbuckle (Miners’ Federation), Bruce and Glover (wateraidersb Parlane (Drivers’ Union), and Elies (Canterbury freezing workers). It was claimed that the deputation was more truly representative of the workers than any other deputation. The regulations, they said, had been passed specifically in the war period should now be swept away. Regarding Johnson, he might have erred, but the sentence was too severe and should be reviewed. He was not a man for violence.

Sir Francis Bell said there should ba freedom of speech, and they could print the wildest forms of Socialism and Communism, which was not sedition so long as they did not advocate violence as a means of obtaining their Utopia. Short of that they were entitled to say anything they pleased and could defy anyone to interfere, but if they distributed literature of a kind which did advocate violence and slaughter as political methods instead of waiting to get theii Utopia by the votes of the majority il was unlawful and every Government was bound to prevent it and was bound to protect the majority against the assault of the minority. Johnson admitted the circulation of literature-which came within the law and it was a wick- JH ed criminal offence. He would lay the point that the man was not cognisant that the literature advocated murder before the Minister for Justice, but the other requests he would not.