"NEVER SUCH WHOPPING LIE"

Chronicle (Levin), 15 August 1946, Page 5

"NEVER SUCH WHOPPING LIE"

— Press Association

MR. FRASER ASKED ABOUT AC( URATE REPORTS

By Telegraph

WELLINGTON, Aug. 14. 1 ii Parliament loday, Ilon. P. Fraser, replviitg to Mr. F. Haekett ((trey L\nii' who had asked the l'rime Aiinis ter tu iinpiire into the possihilitv oi ejistn ing that any ileni of ncws *on t;iined in a nev.spaper was vouehed for a- aei-mate hy Ihe neuspaper eon eerned, said the inat er wotild reeei\ eaietul eonsideratiou lnit the itdopfion oi' sindi a eourse might present coiisidei aide dillieull ies. Mr. F. W. i >oidge (Tauranga) rei'er ling to Mr. Frasei s reply. said In v.ouderud whiit the Prinie Alinistc, u iii ! 1 1 say when he mad the statement in l he Southern ('ross nlleging tlia there was to he a change iji Ihe leadership oi' the Xational I'arty? "Ncver have sindi pei nirions state nients apjieared in any ncwspaper, ' '

M r. Doidge deidared. "Never has tlsrre heen sindi a whopping big lie to! I ahont division or disunity in the rankot t'ne Xational Party. and never lias a inore wieked, outrugeous statement heeu made." dust to indieate the need for ae-r-uraey atid to sliuw the malieiousness oi' the slatenients, eontinued Mr. lloiilge. the neuspaper, in a suceeeding i-s;je, said that Alr. liolland, immediate--ly he kuew of the allegutions, canic iront. his farni to the otiice of the >StartSiin. i'hrist ohurch, to prepare a statement in rebuttal. Those stateinents •Mr. Doidye denied and descrihed as ' ' gut tersnipe, liekspittle journalism " am! eonsidered tliey were niade in a state of sheer political desperation. Aavthing that eonld he dragged down 5 and useil to hesmear the Leader of the Opposition wouid he done and that was the sort of story that would eontinue until eleetion day. The leader of the Xational Party enjoyed esteent, loyalrv and fonlideuce tlwoughout the countrv and if the Prinie .Minister luul the sanie iiinount of loyalty he would he a nnich hajipier man.