NOISY DEBATE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 218, 14 September 1944, Page 6

NOISY DEBATE

CENSORSHIP ISSUE

Nazi Methods Alleged At Canberra

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 2.30. CANBERRA, this day. I Amid Parliamentary uproar, Mr. Abbott (Opposition) said that Nazi , methods were being used in Aus- | tralian communications censorship ] and in compiling dossiers on citi--1 zens. Mr. Abbott was moving that reports of recent judicial inquiries into the censorship by Sir William Webb and Mr. Justice Clyne be printed. The debate was the noisiest of the present session. The motion for the printing of the reports was talked out. Mr. Abott said Sir William Webb's report that there had been no snooping by internal mail and telephone censors was unsatisfactory. The Government should order a fresh investigation either by a Parliamentary committee or by a Royal Commission under a justice of the High Court. The Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, answered that he had no intention of ordering a new censorship inquiry. He said a member of the Parliamentary Censorship Committee had released to the Press a copy of a secret War Cabinet document. Mr. Abott: I neither deny nor affirm that I gave the information I to the newspapers. I Mr. Curtin: I think it would be a good thing if although you have been a Cabinet Minister you should never hold Cabinet rank again. Mr. Abott: If the price of being a Cabinet Minister is to sacrifice the liberty of the individual and the freedom of the Australian people I am willing to forego Cabinet rank. : The debate lapsed.