CHARGE DENIED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 83, 5 October 1938, Page 23

CHARGE DENIED

MR. C. G. SCRIMGEOUR

UNFAIRNESS ALLEGED

(By 'Telegraph — Press* Association.) !

NEW PLYMOUTH, October 4.

A vigorous denial of a charge by the "Taranaki Herald" that hs was the Dr. Goebbcls of New Zealand, was made by Mr. C. G. Scrimgeour to an audience that crowded the Empir# Theatre last night and overflowed into Ul2 large workers' social hall.

Quoting frcm the newspaper comment, Mr. Sci'imgeour "said he wai accused of pouring out blatant political propaganda from IZB last Sunday night. He 'who is paid £1500 a year by the people of New Zealand to control commercial broadcasting crudely and grossly took advantage of his position to again influence voters in the coming election. In this manner did a man who, under the guise of a semireligious organisation, has dene more to embitter politics in New Zealand than any other person, flaunt his power in the face of the people and of Parliament." Mr. Scrimgeour. further quoted an accusation against him that "quite clearly he is to be the Dr. Goebbels of New Zealand in the socialistic State envisaged by Mr. J. A. Lee:" ' ' ■■. :■■'.■■ ' ;

This, said Mr. Sprimgeour, was the biggest insult he had ever, suffered. He strongly resented the suggestion that he endeavoured to impose his will on the people, Never at any-time h^d they.heard him say. "Do as I think," On the contrary, he had consistently urged people to think for :themselves. He did not care two hoots about hii £1500 a year job. If anyone could do it better they 'were"at liberty to take it,' from him. but they were not at liberty to take .from him'the'Friendly Road movement. A man who had vision to work only for mere money was a poor man indeed.

The unfairness of some of the propaganda against him had led him to visit several districts to try to undo some of the damage, continued Mr. Scrimgeour. The Prime Minister had lent some colour to the claim that he was allied to party politics by courageously coming out and saying he was his personal friend. "I don't think it is necessary for anyone to pour out propaganda for .the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage," continued Mr. Scrimgeour. "I may be accused of being political. I am political, and you will see that in the Press tomorrow, because \he Press Association will take hold of everything without regard for its context and use it for their own political purpose." He said he had been criticised, and branded a political propagandist, but he had never been the' one to strike the first 'blow. He stood for the principles held by tens of thousands of people in New Zealand. He had been scurrilously attacked, but he did not believe in personalities. If lie wanted to he could make known facts x about a certain gentleman that would damn him in the eyes of his listeners. A voice: Blow it off your chest. j Mr, Scrimgeour said hs would not do that, for he had no bitterness. The tp?aker wes given aii enthusiastic reception and attentive hearing.