NO “MUZZLE FOR PRESS”

Evening Star, Issue 22631, 24 April 1937, Page 22

NO “MUZZLE FOR PRESS”

ACTING PREMIER ANSWERS MR BODKIN THE SCRIMGEOUR TIRADE MADE WITHOUT GOVERNMENT'S KNOWLEDGE OR APPROVAL [Per United Press Association.! WELLINGTON, April 23. Commenting on the remarks made by Mr Bodkin at Waipukurau on Tuesday, in which he said it looked as if the stage was to bo set up for control of the Press, and that the outburst ot Mr Scrimgeour at Auckland was not the outpouring of a disgruntled public - servant, but made by him as official head of a State department from a State radio station, and that Mr Scrimgeour was no doubt instructed to prepare public opinion for the setting up of a censorship, the Acting Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) said there was absolutely not one iota of fact to justify _ these baseless conclusions, advanced with all the assurance of truth, and calculated, intentionally or unintentionally, to mislead his hearers. “ The Government has never at any time considered for one moment anything so stupid as, to use Mr Bodkin’s own words, ‘muzzling the Press, ’ by which I suppose he means a peace time censorship. The very idea is ridiculous.” Regarding the reference hy Mr Bodkin to control of radio, Mr Fraser said the Government had used the broadcasting service for Parliamentary debates with scrupulous fairness, and would continue to do so. Mr Fraser added that the. statement made by Mr Scrimgeour in regard to a section of the Press was made without the consent, knowledge, or approval of the Government. “The propriety of a State radio broadcasting station being used by a public servant for controversial purposes has received the attention of the Government. The Labour Party has always fought for freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and these precious privileges of democracy are safer in the Government’s hands than in those of our political opponents.”