PARTY DISCRIMINATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1940, Page 7

PARTY DISCRIMINATION

WANGANUI ALLEGATION [PER press association.] WANGANUI, December 6. An allegation, “that the Government was requiring public servants deliberately and intentionally to differentiate against members of the National Party, in the conduct of the Dominion’s business,” is made in Wa'nganui. ' The assertion is based on the statement that, after Mr. E. B. Tustin, a Wanganui lawyer, announced his willingness to accept the chairmanship of the District Aliens Tribunal, he was by a Government official, who was conversing with another Govern-

ment official over the telephone to Wellington, if he were a member of the National Party. Upon replying in the affirmative, he was reportedly told that, in that case, the matter would have to be referred to Mr. Dallard. Mr. Tustin subsequently withdrew his acceptance of the position, paying: “It is obvious that one of my (political views is not acceptable.” Mr. IJ. H. Salmon, S.M., was ultimately j appointed chairman of the tribunal. I When the report was referred to the i Prime Minister, he expressed surprise, and undertook to have the com- | .inint investigated. He said that political differentiation was-no part of the war effort, and he was surprised to bear a suggestion that it was going on. He pointed out that several National Parly members had been appointed to such tribunals, including Mr. C. H. Weston, who for many years was the National President.