DISTURBANCES AT MEETINGS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 153, 25 March 1938, Page 13

DISTURBANCES AT MEETINGS

Mr. Holland Replies To Mr. Fraser Dominion Special Service. Hastings, March 24. “I am sure every fair-minded citizen will welcome Mr. Fraser’s assurance that if further disturbances at political meetings make it necessary to amend the law, the Government will not hesitate to make the necessary amendments,” &tid Mr. S. G. Holland, M.P. for Christchurch North, at a political meeting at Hastings to-night, when referring to a statement made by the Minister in charge of Police, Hon. R. Fraser, in reply to comments made by Mr. Holland at a gathering at Cave. “I am sure, too,” Mr. Holland 1 continued, “that people will -welcome Mr. Fraser’s declaration, -belated though it may be, that the Labour Government disapproves of these organised attempts to prevent speakers representing parties opposed l to the Government from being heard'at public meetings, and it is to be hoped Mr. Fraser’s pronouncement will have the desired result.

“As for the -balance of Mr. Fraser’s two-column statement, he has merely employed the old political trick of building up a straw man and then proceeding to the length of a column to knock the straw man over. Mr. Fraser builds up a case to criticise me based ou the incorrect premise that I have criticised the police. Mr. Fraser knows as well as I do that I did' not do anything of the kind. All I did was to say that the police had their instructions and would not eject anyone disturbing the peace unless they had instructions in writing. Mr. Fras.er now admits my statement is strictly in accord with facts, and I do not wish to rob him of any pleasure he gets out of knocking his straw man over.”