MR. HOLLANDSTOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 38, 14 February 1941, Page 9

MR. HOLLANDSTOUR

COMMENT BY PRIME MINISTER

POLITICAL'BROADCASTING

OFFER MADE

"There is really no need for Mr. Holland to feel peeved at my brief comment concerning his recent political tour," said the Prime Minister (Mr.-Fraser) this afternoon, when commenting on the remarks made in Christchurch by the Leader of the Opposition. "I raised no objection whatever to Mr. Holland's political campaign, or in any way criticised him for undertaking it at the present time. That is a matter entirely for his own judgment. Indeed, from the purely^ j Labour Party point-" of view it has many possible advantages and beneficial reactions. What Tdid say to the i representative of the "Standard," who raised the question, was that. I noted the campaign with little interest. Even a Prime Minister can surely retain the minimum individual right to indicate the degree of interest.he takes in any matter or the importance he attaches to it.

"In regard to the use of broadcasting for party political addresses," continued Mr. Fraser. "I would out that there has been no such broadcasting since the termination of the last session of Parliament. The recent important address of the Minister of Finance (Mr, Nash) in Dunedin was not broadcast. I will be very pleased to arrange for Mr. Holland, as Leader of the Opposition, to deliver a National Service address in support of the war effort and, later on, when political controversy is unavoidable and more opportune than during the present acute- crisis, he and the members of the Opposition will have ample and equitable opportunity of "using the broadcasting system for airing their views. In fact, I consider there is great potential benefit in encouraging them to do so."