State Employees And Communism: Mr Fraser’s View

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1949, Page 3

State Employees And Communism: Mr Fraser’s View

WELLINGTON, August 23 (P.A.). —“The Government has always stood, and. still stands, for the fullest political rights for all its employees, and there is no proposal from any member of the Government to- alter that position,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) at the annual meeting of the Public Service Association today. Communism of the Moscow brand, said Mr Fraser, was another matter, and the Government would not permit, those holding to such principles to occupy positions where they might do harm to their country, for with them loyalty to their country did not come first. ,

Although the Government stood firmly for the fullest political rights for public servants, it might be foolish for a very highly-placed officer to identify himself with a political party. However, nothing of that sort- had occurred in New Zealand, and he did not see the likelihood of it in future.

He saw no difficulties or any danger to the State if the full rights of civil servants continued as they were now, said .Mr Fraser. Nor was there any intention of the abolition of the right of appeal against appointments wholesale, but only at certain stages at certain points. Political rights covered socialism, nationalism, and toryism in varying degrees, he continued, but those who proclaimed such principles were first loyal to their country. Communists, who took their principles from Moscow, were not loyal to their country. What had happened in Canada had proved that.