THE TYRANNY OF OFFICIALS.
[To THE EDITOR OF TICE "SPECTATOR"] SIR,—It is time for Englishmen and Englishwomen to p.rotest against a tyranny, all the more dangerous because it is insidious, and that is the tyranny of officials. .Daring the war we all obeyed Government orders without inquiry. Now officials in time of peace conceive that they have power to make rules and orders binding the subject without any statutory authority. I have held for many years, I am sorry to say, a small lot of German 3 per cent. Loan. The Controller of the Clearing Office requires rae to make a statutory declaration in support of my claim. . . I have pointed out that he has no authority to compel me to make a declaration. His answer is that it is "his rule," though he admits that the declaration is not necessary in my case. But it is the "rule of his office," and the subject must bow down to it. I would sooner lose the amount of my claim than give way to petty official tyranny of this description. A Labour Government might, and probably will, rob all citizens who have saved anything, but that would be preferable to the tyranny of petty officials whose salaries are paid by the taxpayer.—I am, Sir, &c., W. A. CLARKE. Ash Corner, IT'hitchurch, Salop.
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