"REVOLT" TALK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 93, 27 November 1939, Page 2

"REVOLT" TALK

WARNING BY MR SAVAGE

A reminder to persons who were openly talking of "revolt" and "insurrection" that there was such a crime as sedition, and provision was made for dealing with it under the war regulations, was given by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, in an interview published in the Standard.

The Prime Minister said that what was an offence in the last war w:is an offence during the present war. The Government would not allow anyone to hold up New Zealand's war effort. Certain promises had been made to Britain, and those pro-

mises were going to be carried out until the Government could see some thing better to do.

Mr Savage said the Government believed in freedom of speech and freedom of the Press, but it was not going to be abused. Was it a fair

thing, he asked, that when thousands of young men had offered their services for the defence of the British Commonwealth, and were prepared to serve abroad, other people should take up an opposite view, and do everything they could to destroy the efforts of the Government to assist the Mother Country?

In the public interest and to ensure the safety of the people, the Prime Minister continued, such persons should hold their tongues. The men who were' enrolling were just as intelligent as anyone else in the communitj*, and their interests must be protected.

There were big issues before the country—bigger than any political issues—and the question to be asked was: "Is an intelligent democracy or despotism to rule?" New Zealand was still a democratic country, in spite of all that the newspapers had to say, and there would be nothing to prevent the people making a change of Government at the next election if they desired a change.

"I have been told, Mr Savage said, "but so far I have not been given proof, that circulars have been sent out advising people not to pay their rent. If that is correct, the persons who have done that will be brought up with a round turn.

"The people must pay their way in war the same as in peace. Persons who advise others not to pay their taxes or their rent are enemies of the nation and will be treated accordingly."

Mr Savage said the Opposition had pledged itself to co-operate Avith the Government, but its members were going round the country using every opportunity they could get for decrying the Government, and everything the Government did. They had taken advantage of the present situation to make all sorts of statements, without troubling to check whether they were true.

"I want to make it clear that even Members of Parliament are not going to be allowed to 'step on it' as they think fit," Mr Savage added, "and the leading columns of the newspapers are being openly used to discredit everything the Government is doing. "At the same time as these people talk about the desirability of cooperation on the part of the people of the country, they at least ought to give some evidence of security. Most of the leading articles that are written against the Government are so weak that one could drive a horse and cart through them.

"Our opponents are now saying that we are making unprecedented use of the radio, but what other method can we use? They have asked for information, and Mr Nash is giving them information. It is information about what the Government is doing, and it is necessary that it should reach all the people."