"BREACH OF TRUST"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1938, Page 10

"BREACH OF TRUST"

USE OF THE AIR

MR. APPLETON TO ISSUE

WRIT

Speaking at Webb Street, last evening, Mr. W. Appleton, National candidate for Wellington Central, announced his intention to issue a writ of injunction in the Supreme Court to prevent the Prime Minister from making impartial use of the country's broadcasting facilities for election purposes. Mr: Appleton said that the Prime Minister was really committing a breach of trust in his handling ■of broadcasting for political purposes. "There is really no Parliament in existence now," he said. "The Dominion is run by the Executive Council, which holds no legislative powers whatever except those delegated under statute, which are purely administrative. Administrative powers should be used impartially, and as one of the powers is the control of broadcasting the privilege should be used for the benefit of the people as a whole and not any particular class or section. "It is not a question at all as to the number of members in the last House of Parliament because it is now a 'dead' house. Every section of the community is entitled to its fair share of the privileges, and as a new candidate I claim that I am just as much entitled to the use of the air as - Mr. Savage himself5. "It must be remembered," said Mr. Appleton, "that there are no M.P.3 today. Even the Cabinet Ministers merely hold their position with a courtesy title. So satisfied am I as to the constitutional position that I am instructing my solicitors to take immediate steps to issue a writ of injunction through the Supreme Court to restrain the Prime Minister from abusing his powers as he is undoubtedly doing under present circumstances."