PUBLICITY DUTIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25302, 12 August 1943, Page 4

PUBLICITY DUTIES

OPPOSITION CURIOSITY THE DIRECTOR’S SALARY (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. The preparation and publication of Labour Party propaganda at the public expense was alleged by Mr W. J. Poison (Oppn., Stratford) during discussion on the Estimates in the House of Representatives last night, when asking for information as tp the remuneration and duties of the Director of Publicity. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, said the director’s salary was £BSO a year. He was a member of the Prime Minister’s Department. “He censors the Prime Minister’s speeches for security reasons,” continued Mr Fraser, “ and rightly so, because we are all human and may at some time slip with information which should not be published.” , , . , ... Mr Poison: I am glad to hear that he has some control over the Prime Minister. —(Laughter.) . Information about the work which the member for Thames, Mr J. Thorn, was doing in the Prime Minister’s Department was sought by Mr Poison, who said it was generally believed that he was engaged on Labour Party propaganda at the public expense. He was paid as a member of the House, and it would be interesting to know if he received any emolument for his publicity work. Everybody had heard, added Mr Poison, of the famous “ muck-raking ” broadcasts, which were said to have emanated from MiThorn’s office. Mr Poison also asked how many members of the Prime Minister’s Department were preparing election material for the Labour Party.

Mr Fraser said the Government was following well-established precedents which went back to 1918. The organisation which he had in his department would be used to give the public the facts about the Government and its administration and policy as other Governments had done. Mr Poison: So the taxpayer does pay for Government propaganda? Mr Fraser: Oh, no. If anyone, including the member, wishes to be supplied with facts—for example, about the cost of living—he will be supplied with them from my office.