[?] Pamphlet

Chronicle (Levin), 15 June 1949, Page 6

[?] Pamphlet

Press Assoctatiorii

t ( Per

NEW FLYMUUTM, June 14.' "The pamphlet '-Russianising • New Zealand' is not'trickery. It is a fact, ' ' aeclared .ldr. W. Sullivan, M.P., when addressing a meeting at Stratford to- ■ night..,. He was-replying to eritieism by the Prime Minister, Mr. Praser, who said'the Nationai Party had never used a more miserable eleetoral trick when it publislied the pamphlet. '• Mr. Sullivan recalled that in the last hours of the 1947 session ^of Parliament, the Government endeavoured to pass legislation making the War Emergency Regulations law. If it had been sucessful, he said, the Government would have had power to take possession of any property or undertaking, to enter and search .any property, and to siispend the pperation of any Act of Parliament. SignifieantJy the Act was to Contifiue in force until 1950 — after this year's election — when it could be extended for any period suitable to the Government. By-the insistenee of the Opposition, added Mr. Sullivan, the Government was forced to make a drastic modilieation of the Bill. Had i.ll the clauses of the origifial draft of the Bill been passed, the Government could liave done anytlung witliout eonsultlng, Parliament. "The pamphlet gives facts, " Mr. Sullivan (lecbired, "and it is well that the people sliould lcnow what the Government has in ruind for the future. Socialist progi'ess was halted only by a itrong Opposition. ' '

a portion of the text of the first draft of the Supply Regulations Bill, 1947, whieli never beeame law. It was true tiiat the Opposition at the time fastened on these clauses in an endeavour to show that the Government wished to assume tyrannieal powers, but the i'acc was that this Bill simply embodied certaiu parts of the Supply Regulations . which had existed since 1940. These powers had never been exereised in an al'bifrary fashion, and tliey provided. for full compensation if any action Had to be takou under them for the fnrther'ance of the country'syvar effort. _ It had not been the Government 's desire to" hold on to.any more wartime powers thail. were necessary for the well-being of the conimnnity in the post-war period.