INJUNCTION TO BE SOUGHT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 12

INJUNCTION TO BE SOUGHT

—«— Broadcasting During Election Campaign j PRIME MINISTERS POWERS Candidate Decides To Issue Writ CPH.ESS ASSOCIATIOH TELEGBAM.) WELLINGTON, September 29. His intention to issue a writ for an injunction from the Supreme Court to'restrain the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) from what he termed abuse of his power in connexion with broadcasting in the election campaign was announced by Mr W. Appleton, National candidate for Wellington Central, when he spoke at the Webb Street Methodist Hall to-night. Mr Appleton said the Prime Minister .was committing a breach of trust in his handling of broadcasting for .political purposes. "There is really no Parliament in existence now," said Mr Appleton. "The Dominion is run by the Executive Council, which holds no legislative powers whatsoever, except those delegated under the statute, which are purely administrative. It is not a question at all as to the number of members in the last House of Parliament, because it is now a dead House. Every section of the community is entitled to its fair share of the privileges, and as a new candidate, I claim I am just as much entitled to the use of the air as Mr Savage himself. (Cheers.) "I am going to demand my right. So satisfied am I as to the constitutional position, that I am instructing my solicitors to take immediate steps to issue a writ for an injunction through the Supreme Court to restrain the Prime Minister from abusing his powers, as he is undoubtedly doing in the present circumstances. We will see what the Supreme Court has to say about it." • Mr Appleton's announcement was greeted with applause by a large section of the audience.