MR HOLYOAKE RESURRECTS THE “HOLMES CASE”!

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1949, Page 4

MR HOLYOAKE RESURRECTS THE “HOLMES CASE”!

F.A. DANNEVIRKE, March 24. Mr K. J. Holyoake, M.P., actingLeader of the National Party, addressing a public meeting at Ormondville referred to the menace of Communism and made extensive references in that connection to what he called the “Holmes case.” “I have been greatly disturbed,” he said, ‘‘by events during the past few months. I consider the time will come when th c Government should make a full explanation of all the details connected with the Holmes case, and the Government should let us know just what powers it exercises in regard to interfering with personal property for political purposes.” After giving his details of the case, Mr Holyoake proceeded. —“I notice from the press of February 18, that the Council of the Federation of Labour resolved that the Government be asked to enquire into the circumstances of the ‘Holmes case’, and that a report be made to the National Council of the Federation, if necessary. I suggest that this report should be made to the public of New Zealand, not just to an auxiliary organisation of the Labour Party. ‘‘‘lt is the concern of everybody who values their personal rights as citizens of a free and democratic country.

“The Prime Minister has stated publicly that there was some dissension in the Government caucus meeting over this incident, and I should think there would be

BACKING CIVIL SERVICE? “Until this matter is satisfactorily cleared up, no civil servant in this country can be sure khat somebody is not poking and prying into his private papers to find something that might be used politically by the Labour Party. I ask what organisation is there to do this snooping work? Under what legal authority does it operate? These are questions that the Government should answer, and immediately. “To My knowledge, the ‘Holmes case’ is unprecedented in ihe political history of Nev/ Zealand. I repeat that it savours more of the methods employed in some of the dictatorship countries of Europe. Unless. and until the Government reveals the full story .and gives such explanations and excuses as it can, in support of Mr Nash’s actions, the people of New Zeaalnd, and. especially, the civil servants, cannot but feel uneasy about their personal rights as citizens which we have hitherto taken, for granted.