“BOUQUETS AIL THE TIME”

Evening Star, Issue 22362, 11 June 1936, Page 3

“BOUQUETS AIL THE TIME”

MR FORBES TWITS LABOUR WHAT IT EXPECTS FROM NEWSPAPERS [From Ode Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, June 10. Following a long series of Labour speakers, who complained to the House about the inad*juato reporting of Labour vicivs in the newspapers, Mr Forbes, Leader of the Opposition, called them very ungrateful. These members, he said, had received flattering notices, but look at the reports of those who were opposed to the Government. The Opposition ivas given tabloid treatment, whereas everything the Prime Minister said was published in extenso. If under these circumstances the Prime Minister thought the newspapers were not giving him a fair run, what would he expect from broadcasting? So far as the Opposition was concerned he saw little hope for them on the radio if the Leader of the Government wanted all messages of a flattering character to go over. Air Savage seemed to object very much to newspaper criticism, to which he was extremely sensitive, but hc< would recall for the Prime Minister's benefit an incident which happened when he (the speaker) first came to Parliament, and one of the leading members of the Opposition boasted that lie never troubled to prepare speeches because h© could always take the leader of a prominent Opposition newspaper, “ But if the present Opposition have to rely on the leading columns of the Press for criticism of. the Government,” added Mr Forbes, -‘‘ it would be very mild. They have done their best to present the Government’s legislation in the most favourable light, but the Prime Minister cannot expect to be receiving bouquets all the time.” “ I’ve said just the opposite.” corrected the Prime Minister. “ I have said that if the Press was with'me all the time I would think there was something Yvrong with me and with them. But I think I ought to be right sometimes.” (Laughter.) “ One can only laugh at the suggestion of the Leader of the Opposition that the newspapers have turned over to the Government,” remarked the Postmaster-General in his reply to the debate. He would regard such a phenomenon as to-day’s joke, and the Labour Party Yvould certainly have to have a look at itself. Mr Carr (Timaru) : There would ho hope for the Yvorld then. (Laughter.)