HOAXED?

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9172, 12 October 1915, Page 8

HOAXED?

POLICE AND TRADE UNIONS LABOUR MEMBER READS DOCUMENT. PURCHASE OF ARMS ALLEGED. In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr P. C. .Webb (Grey) read some extracts from a document which had been forwarded, ho was informed, to. tho police throughout tho country. The essential sentences of tho document wore as follow: It- is rumoured here that tho trades unions have purchased large quantities of firearms and munitions in anticipation of tho passing of regulations forbidding their sale. You aro instructed to make diligent investigations and report as speedily as possible as to whether this is going- on. - Mr Webb said ha would like the Minister in charge of tho police force to make an explicit statement on the r-übject. Many workers were feeling very sor© about -the-circular, in view of the fact that so many men had gone, to tho front from their ranks. ” Tho: Hon. A. L Herdman said he knew nothing of the document from which' the member for Grey had quoted. It was quite possible that tho Police (Commissioner had issued the instructions if there was a rumour that tho trades unions were buying arms. Mr J.. McCombs (Lyttelton): “How preposterous.’* Mr Herdman: “It is not preposterous. If any section of tho community has been buying firearms, the Police Commissioner, is quite entitled to inquire.” : : - ~ Later in tho afternoon the'Minister said that ho had made inquiries on the subject mentioned by Mr Webb. The Police Commissioner stated that ho knew nothing about tho matter. No such instruction had been issued to tho police.: ■ -.-, -■ • . i