A DOUBTFUL ARTICLE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2793, 10 June 1916, Page 14

A DOUBTFUL ARTICLE

ALLEGED I'RO-GEIiMAN SENTIMENTS. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Mr. T. •W. lthodes (Tiiames) asked the Prime' Minister whether his attention had been drawn to u "pro-German article" which lie said appeared in the Thames "Star" on' Monday last regarding the recent naval battle.. Ho asked the Prime Minister whether lie would submit the article to the Crown Law Department to ascertain whether it was not actionable. It seemed to him that if the article was not actionable ami treasonable, it bordered very closely upon it. He was satisfied that the sentiments expressed in the article did not represent the views o£ the Thames paople. Mr. Massey said that he had read the article iu question with ,-stonishment and regret. A number of copies of the paper had heen forwarded to him, apparently bv indignant residents of Thames. He had .already referred the letter to the Attorney-General's Department, and although he had not yet reeeived an oflicial report, ho could say that steps would bo taken to mako those responsible for publication of the article understand that pro-German articles would not be tolerated in this country. (Hear, hear.) ■ Mr. C. H. Poole: The article reads like German propaganda. Mr. Massey: Yes, it ..reads as if it were "printed in Berlin. It is the worst thing that I have read since the war started.