GESTAPO METHODS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32314, 15 September 1943, Page 5

GESTAPO METHODS

CIVIL SERVANTS’ RIGHTS

ATTACK BY MRS DREAVE&

OPINION OF MR A. SUTHERLAND

Terming it “Gestapo methods,” Mr A. S. Sutherland, M.P. for Hauraki, strongly criticised re-

cent remarks passed by Mrs M. M. Dreaver, Labour candidate for Waitemata while speaking at Auckland recently when she referred to the civil servants who were not supporting the Labour Party.

Mr Sutherland read the statement attributed to Mrs 1 Dreaver as.follows: “ There are also people in Government departments who are not Labour and who are sabotaging our effort. They cannot always be civil to the public. When they are . engaged, we know nothing of their politics, but we know them and are watching them. Where we find this, these people will find a job with some other employer.” “These remarks are uncalled for and unwarranted. The work of the civil servants was on a very high plane,” said Mr Sutherland, adding that he had thought civil servants had full political rights. “It looks as though the Gestapo has been let loose in New Zealand,” said Mi* Sutherland.

He reminded listeners that civil servants under a Labour Government Act had been granted full political rights but from Mrs Dreaver’s remarks it did not seem as though they had such rights.