HEATED REPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24970, 12 August 1944, Page 8

HEATED REPLY

GOVERNMENT DEFENCE

MR FRASER'S OUTBURST ;S.R.) WELLINGTON, Friday

"If tho member i'or Tauranga had the semblance of a. case, lie lias destroyed it by his extravagance and wild foundationless statement, and his unashamed championship of literary filth and immorality," declared the Prime Minister, Mr ' Fraser, in the House.of Representatives today, replying to Mr Doidgo's criticism of the press censorship.

The Speaker intervened, stating that statements making personal reflections on a member could not be permitted. The Prime Minister said lie had no intention of doing so, and would like fa be able to show the House the document he referred to, .so that members could judge for themselves. Saving the War Effort

When he found that Mr Doidge wa.s defending a Communist newspaper, which at the time in question was opposing the country's war effort and seeking to destroy it. said Mr Fraser, lie wondered where the member's stupid antagonism to the Government was leading him. The Government under the emergency regulations had to act to save the country's war effort, and attention had been repeatedly called to the attitude of the People's Voice at that time, when it repeatedly attacked the war effort.

When Mr Doidge defended the right of a paper to continue to publish .such statements, he was constituting himself a champion of subversion, the Prime Minister continued. The paper Democracy had been stopped because it was attacking the Americans who had arrived in New Zealand to save the country, and it had written about an invasion ol Wall Street, and opposed the raising of our war loans. Mr Doidge had overstepped himself in trying to hit at tin 1 Government. "There ought to he a limit to the unscrupulousness even of the member for Tauranga," he added.

Ruling by the Speaker Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition —Stratford) : That is going too far. The Speaker said that the term could not. be used. The Prime Minister: You have ruled on occasion that "robbery ' was in order in this house. When I use "unscrupulous" it is on the same footing. I ask you to quote one instance where that term has been stopped from use in the House. The Speaker: I rule the term is out of order. The Prime Minister said he was not making a persona! reflection, but was referring to political niiscriipulousuess. Opposition Voices; Oh. no. You were not. Criticism ol Newspapers That was what lie meant, continued Mr Eraser. "l.s the press free in any country iu the world.' he asked. Ihe press was usually a proprietary controlled institution, and the daily newspapers went out attacking the Labour Government and stirred up strife. That was unnecessary and unjustifiable in wartime. He did not complain about the attitude oi the press, seeing that it. was controlled by the enemies oi Labour.

Every bit of Labour's legislation was opposed by those who owned and controlled the policy of the press, said Mr Fraser. These people told the leaderwriters what they had to write about. The real censorship of the press was done at the editorial and sub-editorial tables in newspaper offices. When one noted who were the interests controlling the press, shareholders and owners of broad acres, one could not expect them to support Labour's legislation when it interfered with what they claimed were their sacred rights. "Not a Free Press"

The Prime Minister contended that the press was not a free press and to talk about a free press when it was dominated by financial interests was a sham. The* daily newspapers in New Zealand had invariably opposed every advance and step for the progress and betterment of the people, not only when that was done bv this Government but by all previous Governments. Everyone knew what happened to the editor or journalist who wanted to help the people and went against those controlling their papers. There was a stronger censorship in editorial offices than that, evor exercised bf the Government. The real powers of censorship lay in the hands of those who were not responsible to the Government, but to the powers and people who controlled the press. Opposing the suggestion for removal of the censorship, Mr Fraser quoted an instance in Australia where, either under a leakage or disregard of the censorship, certain things had been published which had put the Federal Government in a difficult international position. It had sent frantic requests to stop publication in New Zealand. Moreover. there were frequently requests received from the British Government to stop the publication of certain matters in the press.

Censorship Cannot Be Removed "I am defending nothing that the censor may do in excess ot his duty," he added, "but the censorship cannot be removed." To interjections, Mr Fraser said he did not know of any political censorship in New Zealand. He was prepared to justify certain things that had been done under the censorship, such as the suppression of' publication of the possibility of a railway strike. "I did that and would do it again if necessary," ho added. There had been men going about the country talking of taking action that might lead to a railway stoppage. Publicity of their activities would have encouraged them and it had to he slopped. An Opposition Member: what about (he policemen and their journal? Mr Fraser said he was against anything that would have undermined the discipline of the force and sooner than allow that he would have the association which he gave the police forco withdrawn. Referring to the suppression of the article dealing with women of New Zealand. Mr Fraser said he apparently had an immeasurably higher regard for New Zealand's girls than the member for Tauranga. fn reply to Opposition interjections Mr Fraser said: "I am willing to go to Tauranga and read this article to the women there and ask them if they will stand for that sort of thing and io have their daughters described in terms like that."

.Mr Frnser said the censor was justified in refusing to let ont any article that would besmirch the character of New Zealand girls.