CENSORSHIP OF NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16456, 18 June 1921, Page 8

CENSORSHIP OF NEWS.

LABOUR M.P.’S PROTEST. Messrs D. G. Sullivan, E. J. Howard and J. M’Combs, Labour members of Parliament, have written as follows to Sir Francis Bell, Acting-Prime Minister : “ As members of Parliament we wish to protest most emphatically against the action of tho Government in usurping the law-making functions of Parliament. Ministers are not above Parliament and not above the law, and it is not within the right of Cabinet to issue orders censoring the transmission of news beyond the Dominion. With Mr Massey in London boasting about our prosperity and telling the people about a record surplus of six millions, and that we have millions more as reserves, it would lie awkward for a cable message to bo transmitted from New Zealand stating on the authority of the Acting-Finance Minister that there is an “empty treasury” but the right way to avoid contradictions is to tell the truth. Our point, however, is that- we members of Parliament are the law-makers and have made no law permitting this censorship. Cabinet lias no authority to censor Press news and cannot obtain authority, except from Parliament, including ourselves.”