WHEN MR. NASH IMPORTED COMMUNIST LITERATURE

Chronicle (Levin), 16 July 1947, Page 6

WHEN MR. NASH IMPORTED COMMUNIST LITERATURE

-Press Association

Parliament Hears Explanations By linister

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, July 15. A brisk passage at arms following an allegation by Mr. G. H. Maekley (Wairarapa) that Mr. Nash ■• had once imported into New Zealand Gommunist literature described at the tiine as eneouraging violenee aud lawlesSness, distinguished. the Address-in-Eeply debate in tlie llouse of Eepresentatives this aftenioon. At oue stage: during the animated discussion, tliei;C was a crosshre of ' interjeetions aud mauy points of order were rdised.. Mr. Spealcer (Mr. McKeen) told .the House that if debates were to be eouducted with diguity they xuust observe the stauding orders aud must aeeept his ruliugs promptly.Mr. Maekley said the debate had reached the linal stages without any worthwhile revelatiou of Goverumeut policy. The Goverumeut, as always, was waitiug for something to tum up to help it out of the very great difliculties it was iu at preseut. The National Party had ' nothing iu eommon with Commuuists ifcut the Prime Minister aud his colleagues had frequeutly played ball with them. The forees which the Prime Minister aud his colleagues had set iu motiou were today overtalciug them aud threatening severe cousequeuces in the industrial sphere. There was need for that goodwill which existed ou both sides to predominate in industrial relationships. Communism and industrial peace were as remote as the poles for (Jommpnism had its very foundatiou in disruption aud disturbauce. Mr. Maekley referred to various statemeuts attributed to Ministers in the past aud said tlie present Minister of Pinancc, wheu hc returued from overseas in 1921, brought with him a pamphlet entitled "The Communist Programme of World R'evolution" which, according to a report of the day, was described as encouraging violenee and lawlessncss. The Minister also had brought a special message to the indus- . trial workers of the world from the (Jommunist Internatiouale at Moscow. Subsequently when the Minister was proseeuted, the Magistrate described the. literature as being "as dangerous to the body politic as typhoid germs . placed in a citv reservoir. ; ; Mr. Nash Explains. Mr. Nash, rising to a point of order and explaining the position regarding the pamphlets and the special message, said this story had been circulating around New Zealaud and in his own electorate for teu years but this was the iirst time it had been raised in the Iiouse in a manner which would give him the opportuuitv of stating his position. Mr. Nash said he had brought no special message from the Communist Internationale. He went to England in 1920 to obtain hook ageneies and on his return to New Zealand met a person at Melbourne who asked him to sell some pamphlets and he (Mr. Nasli) consented. Samples of the pamphlets were placed in a case in vnich there were other books which he luid brought from England. On arrival in New Zealand he was met by the police and every hook and pamphlet was examined including the pamphlets which he had not previously seen. These pamphlets included the Communist manifesto whieli was in the General Assembly Library and every other pnblie library. A Magistrate fined him* for importing these pamphlets wliieh he had not seen. Mr. Bodkin: Hid you appeal to the higher court ? Mr. Nash: I urged my solicitor to do

so but he said it was not worthwhile aud at the' time it was uot. , Mr. Nash said the le'aflet eoutaining the statemeuts made by the Member for Wairarapa also coutaiued auother statemeut which was a lie aud should be exposed. This was to the effect that he had beeu twice bankrupt. Numerous poiuts of order were raised in regard to the Minister referriug to a matter which had uot been introduced in the debate and wheu Mr. Spealcer disposed of the'm the debate proceeded. Prime Minister Withdraws. Mr. Eraser said that shortly after the Labour Government was elected, Mr. Maekley, as general manager of railways, had expressed his pleasure at being able to work for a Labour Admiuistration. Discussing Mr. Maekley 's attitude at that time, the Prime Minister said: "The only exhibition of sycophancy we ever saw in the public service came from the hoqourable Member for Wairarapa. It was uot merely subservie'nce. I would say it was sycophancy — disgustiug sycophancy. ; ' This brought a protest from • Mr. Holyoalce who said that uot even the Prime Minister could be allowed to malce remarks of that nature about anofher Member, even in the latter's private capacity before election to the House. Mr. McKeen agreed that the term was unparliamentary and at his r,equest Mr. Eraser withdrew it, saying Mr. Maclcley had been "remarkably compliant." Mr. Eraser said the Opposition had offered 110 incisive criticism of the Goverumeut 's policy. The House apparently unanimously approved of the Goverumeut 's rehabilitatiou plan and the manner in which it- was being operated, the only criticism having been of delays in land settlemeut. Mr. Eraser said he rejected Mr. Holland's statement that the abolition of the couutry quota helped to keep Lab-* our in office. On the contrary, he thought the Government 's position in this Parliament would have been stronger had the law not been altered, but an important principle was iuvolved and the Government had been determined to make the electoral law more democratie irrespective of politieal advantage or disadvantage. Mr. Eraser said it had been suggested from the Opposition benches that Maori 3Members ought not to have voted on a Hill affecting the electoral law for European seats but as kiaori Members manv years ago voted for the couutry quota surelv tlieir successors were eutitled to vote for its abolition. Mr. Maekley' s Denial. Mr. Maekley, rising to a point of order at tlie eonelusion of Mr. Eraser 's ppeecli, said someone had been drawing on tlieir imagination in giving Mr. Eraser to understa-nd tliat he (Mr. brackley) had been'unduly plastic in his attitude after Labour took office. His iirst action as general manager at that time was to go to the then Prime Minister and the then Minister of Eailwavs and personallv offer them his resignation. Was that the action of a man was was uiidulv compliant? Howevef, the resignation was not accepted and he believed he had served the Labour Government' as well as it was his desire to serve his country. j\l r. E. kT. Algie said that if the Government were prepared to make a bargain not to go baclc to depres'sion tallc, he would agree not to tallc of jail days and the Opposition would rneet the Government on that basis.