WHO STOLE MACHINE-GUN?

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1934, Page 7

WHO STOLE MACHINE-GUN?

LABOUR MEMBER’S SUGGESTION. ALLEGATION OF A “FRAME-U?” (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) ? ,■ J Wellington; Last Night. Saying he had received letter from a very important person at Auckland ■ declaring - that the machine-gun" which was stolen from a New Lynn hall had been removed by someone who was paid to get it, Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) made a sharp attack in the. House this afternoon on the proposal to establish police reserves, the Minister in Charge of. Police (the Hoh. J. G. Cobbe) and the Commissioner of Police (Mr. W. G. Wohlmann). He suggested tire Minister was under the domination of the Commissioner. Mr. Parry in referring to the proposal to establish police reserves said that in debates in the House he had opposed legislation restricting the liberties of th j people. This legislation should be removed from the Statute Book. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates: Are you frightened? Mr. Parry: No, I am not frightened, and I don’t think you are frightened either. I am quite satisfied there is fear, in this country, which I believe to be largely due to the fear and incapability of the Commissioner of Police and the Minister in charge of police. I believe one of the best things to do would be to send the Commissioner of Police away - to a little island with a revolver and let him build mud -heaps into imitations of men.

“There is no need for this new army or this new police force,” continued Mr. Parry, “and I want to assure the Ministers that we are just as anxious for a straight-forward deal-as they are.” The annual report of the Commissioner of Police, showing that crime had decreased in the Dominion, was mentioned by Mr. Parry, who said it was surely time that they could expect the Ministers to stand on their own feet. He was prepared to do everything he could to help New Zealand, but he was not going to support a policy which would tend to convert the country into a milL tary camp. ~ ( Mr. Parry said he had received information from a very important person at Grey Lynn, who had suggested that the stolen machine-gun had been removed by some person who was paid to do the job. Mr. F. Langstone (Labour, Waimarino): A frame-up! - Mr. Parry:' -If that kind "of ■ gangster method is going to be adopted in New Zealand, making it like America or some other foreign country, we will not stand for it