PUBLICATIONS BILL

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1937, Page 5

PUBLICATIONS BILL

ANONYMOUS POLITICAL MATTERS. OPPOSITION GUESSING WELLINGTON, November 29. No official indication can be obtained concerning the Government s intentions regarding the proposed Anonymous Publications Bill, providing for the signing by the writers of all political reading matter appearing in the newspapers. It has been fairly confidently stated that, as a result of apprehension expressed by members of the Industrial Labour Movement, the measure is likely to be dropped, but when the matter was referred this evening to the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage he declined to make any comment whatsoever.

One suggestion is that the Bill may be held over until after the Christmas recess. Another is that the proposals may be substantially modified. The Prime Minister would not discuss either of these points, nor would he say whether any legislation bearing on this point could be expected before the recess. The general feeling in Parliamentary circles is that, if the Bill is not introduced during the first half of the session, some form of legislative action may be taken in the New Year.