LETTER THREATENS DEATH OF P.M.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30943, 27 December 1965, Page 1

LETTER THREATENS DEATH OF P.M.

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Dec. 26.

The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) has released the text of a letter in which a threat was made to his life. The letter was received on October 15.

A spokesman for Mr Holyoake said that the Prime Minister was releasing the letter to show the type of pressure to which public figures were at times subjected, and the extreme reaction of some individuals to an issue such as the Rhodesian one. He said Mr Holyoake had not released the letter earlier as it has been under police action.

No extra security watch had been kept on the Prime i Minister he said. The text of the letter is as follows (all spellings are as < in the letter): “Dear Mr Holyoake “You claim that N.Z. well make up their own minds what to do if Rhodesia seizes indedence. “Here a warning (underlined). Send troops and you'll have two wars to fight one in I j Rhodesia, and one in N.Z. ■I “There are a few Rhodes- ■ tans in the Wellington area, iganging up. and throughout

N.Z. we will blow up planes, sink your ships, and cripple your industries. “Your Government is pretty central, and your main industries are not no scattered far. “I have a bullet with your name on it, and I’ll get you before you get me. “From a few Rhodesians; with love. “PS.S. You might thin this is a • bluff, try your luck, sucker.” The letter, on two sheets of lined notepaper was printed in small letters.