CIRCULARS ON POLITICS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22446, 6 July 1938, Page 6

CIRCULARS ON POLITICS

ANONYMOUS STATEMENTS CRITICISED

REFERENCE IN ADDRESS BY NATIONAL CANDIDATE

“If anyone sends you anonymous circulars, my advice is to disregard, them entirely. Put them in the wastepaper basket, for they are no good to anyone.” This remark was- made in an address last night at' the Radiant Hall by Mr O. C. Mazengarb, National candidate for Wellington Suburbs, when he was commenting on recent references to anonymous circulars on political subjects. “I do not see any reason why there should be a dirty election this year,” said Mr Mazengarb. “It takes two to make a quarrel, and one can always end it. References have been made.to circulars sent out by one side or another, and that indicates that there is to be some mud-slinging.” Criticism of anonymous circulars had come originally, from the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash), said Mr Mazengarb, but before Mr, Nash set out to criticise the National Party he would be well advised to set his own house in order and withdraw instructions given to his own side. “I read them in the ‘Standard,’ which is the official organ of the Labour Party,” Mr Mazengarb continued.. "These instructions were given by a gentleman who is now assistant-secre-tary of the Labour Party, and this is what he wrote:—

“ ‘Dark clouds are to-day appearing on the political horizon, and from the adherent of Socialism something more than enthusiasm is required. We must marshal our forces with loyalty and discipline—absolute obedience to executive rulings • must be observed. Branches should function as eyes and ears of the movement, take an intelli-gent-interest-in all that goes on in their particular localities, keep a constant check on, movements and meetings of our opponents, circulate literature and become 100 per cent, propagandists for the party on the basis that the party is always right. We must work steadfastly and constantly. Every announcement detrimental to the party in the press must be immediately denied over the radio.’ “It does not matter whether anything is fair or just about the Labour Party,” Mr Mazengarb added. “It must be denied over the radio, true or false.”

Certain anonymous circulars had been distributed but they had not been sent out by the National Party. He understood that they had mostly been distributed in Mr Nash’s electorate, but he did not know what they contained. He felt that such circulars Should be entirely disregarded. [Extended report published by arrangement