MR HOLLAND WARNS INTIMIDATORS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26395, 13 April 1951, Page 6

MR HOLLAND WARNS INTIMIDATORS

Government Will Use Powers “GUILTY NEED EXPECT NO MERCY” From Our Own Reporter WELLINGTON, April 12. The Prime Minister (Mr S. G. Holland) to-night described intimidation as the meanest and most cowardly of practices, and gave a warning that anyone found guilty of this offence could expect no mercy. “Intimidation is the weapon of those who would smash democracy as we know it,” said Mr Holland, commenting on evidences of intimidation during the waterfront strike. “It is the latest development of the waterfront hold-up and is being applied to frighten people against acting in accordance with their own wishes and consciences. “I can think of nothing more cowardly than to telephone a worker’s wife or to write her an anonymous letter and threaten her and her family with serious consequences if her husband should return to work or touch cargo handled by servicemen.

“The Government has evidence of the use of intimidation over a wide field," said Mr Holland. “In one case a man unconnected with the present strike had an objectionable word painted on the front wall of his home. This was, of course, done under cover of darkness. People in whose support such despicable actions are undertaken presume to talk of ‘human rights.' Was there ever such violation of them? “I wish to issue a warning on behalf of the Government that intimidation is regarded as a very serious offence and anyone found guilty of

it need expect no mercy. Intimidation is the meanest of practices because it requires so little courage and is usually so difficult to detect. But it should be remembered that the Government possesses very wide powers to protect our people and it will not hesitate to use them in order to deal with intimidators. I would say that the present strike would have been over long ago but for the fear of intimidation and branding, techniques that are part and parcel of Communist methods of capitalising on fear and on the power of the bully."