INQUIRY PROMISED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20275, 17 June 1940, Page 6

INQUIRY PROMISED

OPPOSITION LEADER COERCION NOT NEEDED CRUSHING LOYAL PEOPLE (Pur Press Associntion.) WELLINGTON, this day. Interviewed on the Government’s reported order disbanding the National Service Movement, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, said that on the face of it he could not see any reason why coercive or threatening measures were needed to crush any genuine welling up of the demands from any loyal section of citizens.

“I do not know of any underlying subversive reason behind the association,” said Mr. Hamilton. “Its Speakers included persons whose loyalty, in my opinion, was beyond question. On one occasion a Parliamentary member of the Labour Party whose loyalty and love for the country has been demonstrated was one speaker who received enthusiastic support at a great public gathering in Auckland.

“I am not in possession of the full facts of this case, but 1 trust that if there has been any misunderstanding it will be removed quickly. I cannot imagine how the Government could have taken action against an outside organisation of loyal citizens. I shall certainly inquire into the exact seriousness of the grounds on which this interference has taken place. If the question of the domination of the Government by outside influences comes into it, I shall certainly have some plain speaking to do myself on that matter.

“I will continue to speak equally plainly of the lack of decisive action against disloyal organisations in our midst. They can come out root and branch, with great gain to our war effoil and unity.”