“Such Vicious Treatment!”

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 223, 20 September 1943, Page 4

“Such Vicious Treatment!”

ONLY ONE BROADCAST FOR JOHN A. LEE (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. “The electors of New Zealand must well ponder over the discrimination shown against John A. Lee and the Democratic Soldier Labour Party by the present Government," says a statement issued by Mr. F. M. Earle, honorary secretary of the Party. ‘‘Despite our having 52 candidates, two-thirds of whom are returned soldiers, we have been permitted only one broadcast early in the campaign. From then onwards our leader and his candidates are being abused in broadcasts without the right of reply through the same channel. This is bad enough, but now it is understood Mr. Lee is not to be allowed to speak along with the other party leaders on the Friday night before polling day. “What a travesty of democracy! Such vicious treatment is unworthy of our New Zealand tradition. This injustice particularly rankles in view of the fact that wherever Mr. Lee has spoken in the North Island and in Dunedin, he has drawn much larger attendances than the Prime Minister or other Ministers. Mrs. Lee has just concluded a successful tour of the South Island, speaking at Ashburton, Oamaru, Timaru and Christchurch with similar results. Our candidates have also enjoyed good meetings. Perhaps that is why the present Government Party takes refuge behind the microphone and denies us the right of reply to which we are entitled. We demand justice."