PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 10 June 1916, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

STRANGE PRAISE FOR GERMANY.

(By Telegraph— Special to Star.}

WELLINGTON, June 9. Tne member for Thames drew attention to nn article in Monday's ThamesStar headed "Naval Defeat." Mr Rhodes read the article, which expressed the opinion that tne British Fleet had suffered a severe reverse, and that" it had been shown that ship for ship and man for man the German fleet was equal to the British. The article alsoincluded the words: "Jellicoe's report is-vague, indefinite and unsatisfactory. Germany is still victorious on land, andhas given a good account of herself on the sea." Mr Rhodes asked if such a pro-German article was not actionable,., and expressed the opinion that if notactually treasonable, it was bordering very close upon it. Mr Massey, in replying, said that his ■ attention had already been drawn iothe article, as several copies of the--paper had been forwarded to him by midignant Thames residents. He had: read it with a great deal of regret "I may say (added the Premier) that I have already referred the article to the-Attorney-General's department, and. although I have not yet had an official leport, steps will be taken to make theeditor and proprietors who ar-e responsible for this article understand that> prof-German sentiments and opinions will not be tolerated in this country."" Mr Poole: That sort of thing is German propaganda. Mr Massey: It reads as if it had been, printed in Berlin, and is the worst thing since the war started. TAINTED NEWS. Mr Massey, at Mr Payne's suggestion, said he would consider the question of prohibiting the publication of news from neutral or enemy sources Mr Payne suggesting that much harm'had been done by the way the naval engagement news had been published. NEWSPAPER CENSORSHIP. The fact that private persons cannot post newspapers to neutral countries was impressed on the House. As a result or complaints by Mr Young (Waikato) i \ lge numbers of newspauers posted by New Zealanders to friends in America and other neutral countries were being destroyed in Wellington, hesuggested that papers might be submitted to postmasters and allowed to passir the officials were satisfied that they contained no seaet code or improper ne.is. Sir Joseph Ward stated that the censoring was under Imperial direction^ with the object of preventing information of value to the enemy, published in New Zealand, being sent to theenemy Only newspapers in the original publisher's wrappers were aliowedK to pass out, but though this caused inconvenience, it was far better to suffer thus than help the enemy. •