MINISTER'S REMARK

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 136, 10 June 1937, Page 7

MINISTER'S REMARK

LABOUR AT THE POLL

HON. A. HAMILTON'S

COMMENT

(By Teleeraph—Presfl Association.)

INVERCARGILL, June 9.

Speaking at Hiverton tonight, the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) said that his attention had been drawn to a report in the "Taranaki Herald" of May 26 of a speech made by the Acting Prim.c Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) on Ihe day before at Hawera. It was reported that he said that he was not an alarmist. He hoped he was wrong, but he was'1 afraid that if the Labour Government was defeated at the next election the people-of New Zealand would be deprived of the opportunity of electing a Government for at least 10 years. He added that vested interests would prevent Labour from occupying the Treasury benches for a long time. He also added that democracy must be maintained. "If the Minister is correctly reported," said Mr. Hamilton, "it is regretted that one holding his political rank should utter such nonsense. He knows that the suggestion is absolutely false. The statement is very interesting coming from the same Minister who quite recently whistled to keep his courage up by stating that the National Party was-bankrupt. Now he realises that there is a very real possibility of the Labour Party being beaten at the next election.

"Mr. Fraser's remark, made without the slightest justification, was an attempt to distract the tide of public resentment growing stronger every day against the dictatorial domination of his Socialistic party. Such dictation is causing widespread alarm among the people of New Zealand, who love freedom and justice to an extent not realised by the Acting Prime Minister. The democrat has never been in doubt in New Zealand until the Labour Government came into office, but Communism, with, the totalitarian State, is now knocking at our door. This, is New Zealand's real danger."