Interrogation Of Fadden: Censure Motion May Follow

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 October 1948, Page 6

Interrogation Of Fadden: Censure Motion May Follow

CANBERRA, Oct. 8.

The Opposition parties in the Federal Parliament are considering launching a censure motion against the Government over the attempt by the securtiy police yesterday to question the leader of the Country Party (Mr A. W. Fadden).

They are also discussing whether protest meetings should be held in all the capital cities and large country towns against what they term “an attempt to break down the privileges of Parliament and its members.” A censure motion would take precedence over all other business. Correspondents believe that it would have no chance of succeeding, but that it would enable the staging of a full debate, during which Opposition members could make good points. Laboui' members predict early prosecutions under the Crimes Act. They say that the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) is determined to find out the source of Mr Fadden’s information, and will protect nobody. The debate on the Estimates was concluded today without further reference to the documents quoted by Mr Fadden, and the House adjourned until Tuesday. Speaking at the rising of the House early today, Mr Chifley said the Government had asked members of the Opposition for help in a most courteous way, in order to assist the Government and the Security Department. “I will put a simple question, added Mr Chifley. “Did the leader of the Country Party bring those documents into the House believing that they were genuine, or is it suggested that he concocted something?” Mr H. L. Anthony (Country Party): The Prime Minister is the only person who can say whether these documents are genuine or not. He previously told the country something that these documents contradict entirely. Did the Prime Minister misinform the country, or are these documents genuine?