ENEMIES OF THE COUNTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 236, 2 October 1920, Page 7

ENEMIES OF THE COUNTRY.

I PREMIER ON EXTREMISTS. ! "AN INDUSTRIAL PARLIAMENT." ; , • <By Telegraph.—Parliamentary EeporUr.* j WELLINGTON 1 , Friday. The Premier used strong phrases to-day in condemnation of the principles enunciated at a Labour gathering in '■ Wellington on Wednesday, and he pro- ■ poses to obtain the Crown Law Officer's 1 opinion as to whether they constitute 1 sedition. One speaker, it was reported ' in a newspaper paragraph, to which Mr. ' E. Newman called attention, said that ; the workers of New Zealand had to organise as the workers of Russia and Italy were organised. -The industrialists • must take charge of the industries. In the same vein another prominent figure In Labour circles said lie, looked iorward 1 to the time when there would be an ' alliance of labour that would directly • represent the workers of New Zealand in .an industrial Parliament, making 1 laws to govern the industrial life of the ■ country. He hoped that within two years an industrial Parliament would be 1 established in place of the present political Parliament. Mr. Massey's comment was that he would certainly call the Crown Law Officers attention to the advocacy of the Soviet system, and the replacement of the present political Parliament. Mr. H. Holland: There's no crime in that, if it is done constitutionally. Mr. Massey: It is sedition. Mr. Holland: I am prepared to advocate it. on a public platform, and I challenge you. Mr. Massey: I am not a lawyer, but 1 believe it to be sedition, and the man responsible ought to be punished. Mr. Holland: Try it on. Mr. Massey went on to declare that this folly, this Bolshevism preached daily in the large centres could only have one end, disaster, and it must be taken in hand and stopped. Parliament was representative of the whole of the people, and would continue to be so while people who preached such doctrines as had been referred to were enemies of the people, and their campaign would have to stop. 'We have let this thing go on too long," he declared, amid approving hear, hears. Mr. P. Howard: Don't get panic stricken. Mr. P. Fraser asked if the Premier would also submit to the Crown Law Officer* an anonymous letter on Labour troubles, published in Wellington, advocating bloodshed. Mr. Massey: 1 have m> objection to handing it over. A WATERFRONT TRnIT.I.K. There was another Ministerial bru.-h with the Labour members as a result of a question from Mr. J. .1. Sullivan regarding the nature of the Crown Law Ofliecr's advice about the action of the Wellington shipowners in refusing to cnll for (he watersiders to work the ships. Sir William Herries: I have received the report, and it is confidential. T do not want to inform the enemies of the country of its contents. (Laughter from Labour benches). Mr. Holland suggested that the Government submit for the opinion of the Law Office an article in a Southern newspaper, declaring that capitalists would never submit to a Labour Government. The Government, commented Mr. Holland, seems to take action only in the case of the working ellipses. Mr. Massey: That may be your opinion. 1 have not seen the article, bin if it, is sent along I will make up ] my mind. Mr. Sullivan took exception to Sir William Herries , phrase "enemies of the country," but received a prompt Ministerial assurance that he was regard"' l rs a respected and law-abiding member. ■But." said Sir William Herries, "there aie people not in this House whom I do regard as enemies of the country."