LEAFLET RAID

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 310, 25 September 1943, Page 6

LEAFLET RAID

Admission By Candidate For Lee Party

Do'minion Special Service. AUCKLAND September 24. A frank statement that he alone had been responsible for the “leaflet raid” cartied out from an aircraft ovei* the city on Wednesday afternoon, when pamphlets dealing with the Democratic Labour Party were dropped, xvas made by Flying Officer L. S. Dromgoole. the party s candidate for Auckland East, when addressing a meeting of over 200 in the Victoria Theatre last night. “I think a lot of you will be interested in what I am going to say about broadcasting,” said Flying Officer Dromgoole, amid laughter. “Yesterday you witnessed the first political leaflet raid in the history of New Zealand, and we certainly stole a march ou the Labour Party. , “I accept full responsibility for the action. In fact, I expect that when 1 return to my station on .Sunday morning I will be court-uiartialled. “Our opponent, Mr. Parry, promised serious consequences, and described my action as a typical piece of ‘Leeism,’ yet John A. Lee knew nothing abouF it. It was enterprising and honest, ano showed that we are not just party hacks. It is-time we had some initiative in the government of this country. .. “Repercussions already have begun,’ Flying Officer Dromgoole continued. “1 believe the police are on my trail, and I intend to see them and tell them that I did it. The Prime Minister, also, is on my trail. Ho telephoned tlie commanding officer of tlie station to which 1 am attached wanting-to know how this sort of thing could possibly have happened. "On the instructions of tlie Prime Minister, the pilot of the aircraft was interrogated. I was taken before a tribunal today and examined for 1 two hours. “The pilot of the machine did what lie did quite unwittingly. He was. merely tlie agent and I was the principal. I <io not consider lie should be victimized for (in action of which lie was unaware.” Most of the questisus at the meeting dealt with the “leaflet raid.” One man in the audience asked the candidate how he could be court-martinlied when he was engaged in an election in civilian clothes and without pay and allowances. “I think I am a civilian all right, but I think they will try to work round King’s Regulations,” replied the candidate. “I believe they are allowed to charge me within .12 hours after returning to camp.” Many of the candidate’s remarks during this portion of his address were greeted with vociferous applause. At the conclusion lie was accorded a vote of confidence with only about five dissentients.