CENSURE MOTION LIKELY

Chronicle (Levin), 9 October 1948, Page 5

CENSURE MOTION LIKELY

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter

Chifley May Order Early Prosecutions

, Copyright)

Received Fyiday, 8 p.m. CANUERRA, Oct. 8. The Opppsition parties are considering launching a cehsure motion against the Movernment over the attempt by the Seeiirity police yesterday to question the Le&der of the Uountry Party (Mr. Fadden). They are also discussing whether protest meetings should be held in all the capitai cities and large cpuntry tpwns against what they term an attempt to break down the privileges of Parliament and its members. The eensure motion would. take pre- : eedence over all other business. Correspondents believe that it would have no chance of suceeeding but that it would enable the staging of a full debate during which Opposition members eould make good points. Labour members are * f orecasting early prpsecutions under the Crimes Aet. They say that Mr. Chifley is determined to flud out the souree of Mr. Fadden 's information and will protect nobo'dy. The debate on .the Estimates was eoncluded today without further referenee to the doeuments and the Houso adjourned until Tuesday. Speaking at the rising of the House of Representatives early today, Mr. Chifley repeated his earlier statement that the doeuments quoted by Mr. Fadden in the House last week were either stolen or forged. He said that the Government was asking the Opposition members if the doeuments were stolen and,\if so, how, The Government had asked Wembers of the Opposition for this help in a most courteous way in order to assist the Government and the security department. There seemed to be some open doors by which members of the Opposition or Communists were able to obtain confidential doeuments. Opposition members cried loudly about leakages, but deelined to render any assistanee. The Acting-Attorney-General (Senator McEenna) had been asked only to ascertain whether there was any eyidence that an open or halfopen door might exist. "I will put a simple question," added Mr. Chifley. "Did the Leader of tlie Country Party bring those doeuments into the House believing they were genuine or' is it suggested that he eoncocted something?'? Mr. Anthony (Country Party): The Prime Minister is the only person who can say whether these doeuments are genuine or not. He previously , told the country something that these' doeuments contradict entirely. Did the Prime Miniser misinform the country, or are these doeuments genuine? Air. Fadden has received a letter from the Aeting-Director of Security (Colonel R. S. Brown) asking him to give an intervie^ to the security service officers at his own convenience and to permit them to examine the doeuments.