FURTHER ATTACK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 263, 5 November 1937, Page 8

FURTHER ATTACK.

PRIME MINISTER'S THREAT. MR. FORBES IN DEFENCE. (Bj Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The allegation that the newspaper Press of the Dominion is not treating the Government fairly was repeated in the House of Kepresentatives to-night by the Prime Minister, .Mr. Savage, who declared that the Government was facing this position and would have to seek other means of publicity. "I do not know what that will be,"' he continued, "but do not make any mistake. I have never gone down without a fight."' .Mr. Lee (Government, Grey Lynn): You are not j:oin£ down. The Prime Minister: And the people who [tut us down will know that they liave been in a scrap. There now!'' Hearty laughter greeted the Prime Minister's use of his favourite exclamation, and he laughingly remarked that he had been accused of using his famous phrase. "I am not speaking in a personal way," he continued, "because I think I know niy job just as well as they do. A mail is not paid to write the principles of the Sermon on the Mount, but the policy of the newspaper, the vested interests that the Press are resting upon to-dav. That's all." This threat provoked comment from Mr. G. W. Forbes (National. Hurunui), who > remarked that the Prime Minister seemed very sore with the newspapers. "I never knew that the Prime Minister was so sensitive," he continued. "He reminds me of a crayfish that has shed its shell. He has been complaining about the Press since he took office, but no man has had a fairer run. Does he want adnlation all the time? He said that he was not. getting the notice from the Press that he should and that something would have to be done." The Prime Minister: T did not say that. T said we would find other means of publicity. Mr. Forbes: He said lie was not getting the notice he should. The Prime Minister: T was talking about the Government.