"STOLE A MARCH"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 227, 24 September 1943, Page 4

"STOLE A MARCH"

DEMOCRATIC LABOUR WEDNESDAY'S LEAFLET RAID "We stole a wonderful march on the Labour party. We decided we were courageous and were men of enterprise," said Flying-Officer L. S. Dromgoole, Democratic Soldier Labour party candidate for Auckland East, in his. final address to electors in the Victoria Theatre last night. He was referring to the leaflet raid over the city on Wednesday afternoon. He spoke for two hours before touching the subject of broadcasting. "I don't know what right David Wilson has to dictate broadcasting policy," he said. "I am ashamed that a Minister of Broadcasting could refuse a man like John A. Lee the right of reply, but we came on the air on Wednesday despite the Minister. I accept full responsiblity. When I return to camp on Sunday morning, I expect to be courtmartialled."

He said the Minister of Internal Affairs; Mr. Parry, had promised serious consequences and had described the action as a "typical piece of Leeism." But Mr. Lee knew nothing of the proposition. It was, however, Leeism in that it showed enterprise and that there were others in the party who could think besides the leader. He believed the police were already on his trail. "To-day," said Flying - Officer Dromgoole, "I was examined by a tribunal and asked to give evidence against the captain of the aircraft. Yesterday, he was interrogated by the commanding officer of his station, without the benefit of an attorney, following a telephone call from the Prime Minister."

"He's a hero," said a member of the audience when the candidate said that the pilot of the machine did. what he did unwittingly, and was merely an agent. Asked why he did not get a New Zealand plane, Flying-Officer Dromgoole said it was a question of what aircraft was availble. He did not think politicians were so narrowminded as to criticise a man of another country.