HARD HITTING

Evening Star, Issue 22633, 27 April 1937, Page 8

HARD HITTING

ACTING PREMIER ON NATIONAL MANIFESTO DOUBTS PARTY'S ENDORSEMENT The Acting Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) makes the following reply to a statement on the use of radio by tho Government allegedly to disseminate criticism of tho Government’s opponents:— “ I hesitate to believe that in the National Party there could bo found anyone quite so contemptible as to assume responsibility for this particular example of attempted political assassination. I expect the responsible section of the National Party to repudiate tho statement. “ The miserable attack, on the Prime Minister when be is thousands of miles away on British Commonwealth business will be resented by the whole of the people of the Dominion. Tho insinuation that Mr Savage could be guilty of anything so reprehensible and sinister in connection, with the Press and Radio as has been attributed to him in' the statement mentioned will bo treated with contempt by all who •know him. “ As for the assertion concerning tho statement by the _ Minister _in Charge of Broadcasting in connection with the IZB incident, ascribed _in cowardly fashion to a ‘ power behind the throne,’ it is simply a plain falsehood.

“ I cannot congratulate the individual or individuals who have apparently misappropriated the name of the National Party on their skill in political assassination. After all, any person whose inclinations or instincts lie in that direction might as well become expert in the art to which he has sunk.”

[Two passages from the statement issued by the New Zealand National Party, and published yesterday, read:

Wo have already seen what has occurred in connection with the commercial broadcasting service, a service ostensibly designed to give those desiring it facilities to advertise over tho air, but in reality also destined to servo as a medium for the dissemination of intemperate criticism of tho Government’s alleged opponents. We have seen the attempt made by Ministers and by tbe official organ’ of the Labour Party to create a psychology hostile to tho printed word. The real aim of this is not hard to discover; It is simply a well-thought-out scheme to discredit the Press in favour of radio, which can more easily be prevented from broadcasting anything inimical to tho party in power. The PostmasterGeneral promised an inquiry into some of tho Rev. Mr Scrimgeour’s utterances, but this power behind the throne tells the world that “ I expect Mr Jones had to make such a statement out of courtesy to his inquirers.” If that’ does not indicate that the Government’s blessing is bestowed upon the Rev. Mr Scrimgeour, and that he feels himself strong enough to defy his Minister, then words mean nothing. It will be interesting to see what sort of an inquiry takes place.]