MR LEE’S SQUIB

Southland Times, Issue 22471, 6 November 1934, Page 6

MR LEE’S SQUIB

The “suppression” firework sent up by Mr Savage and Mr Lee has become a squib. If either had taken the trouble to make a few inquiries before launching this thunderbolt in the House they would have been spared the “let down” brought about by the Auckland Star’s explanation. Behind this attempt to work a piece of sensationalism is the fact that the letter signed “.Guidance” which appeared before the Investment Trust Commission in New Sopth Wales referred to a political party by the word “Polab” as being ready to assist the McArthur interests through political action. The term used by the unknown correspondent carried with it certain implications through the second syllable, but as far as we know no newspapers in this country ever suggested that the Labour Party was involved. In fact the direction in which “Guidance” wished to turn his readers’ thoughts was obvious. No one would take such a letter seriously, and Mr Savage, as an old campaigner, by checking Mr Lee’s exuberance should have

avoided humiliation of such an anti-climax. It is now clear that no New Zealand newspaper suppressed anything in connection with this report, and if Mr Lee had given five minutes to an inquiry in the proper quarter he would have escaped the mistake of launching a thunderbolt which turned out to be a peanut.