A BOOK REVIEW

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 22, 26 July 1945, Page 8

A BOOK REVIEW

AND ITS SEQUEL

A bitter attack had been made by the member for Roskill (Mr. Richards) on a member of the National Party s staff when he spoke in the debate on tne Finance Bill last Monday, said Mr J. T. Watts (National, Riccarton) in the. third reading stage of the Finance Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr.; t Richards had said that Mr. Martin Nestor, an officer of th/i party's headquarters staff, had been sent to Canada and his expenses had been paid, said Mr. Watts. As a matter of fact, Mr. Nestor had never been in Canada nor withm thousands of miles of that Dominion. Mr. Richards had alleged that Mr. Nestor had been sent there to interfere with the Canadian elections. Mr Watts said Mr. Nestor had been approached by a Canadian newspaper to review a book entitled, "Make This Your Canada," which had been put out with the approval of.the Co-opera-tive Commonwealth Federation of Canada. The review was published seven months before the Canadian elections and it had no eftect on the poll whatever. It was most unfair to attack a person outside the House who could not defend himself. He quoted long extracts from the Article, stating that it was an able criticism of the policy of the New Zealand Labour Government over a period of nine yeMr" Richards said that the only error he had made—if he had made an error —was that he had stated that Mr. Nestor had been sent from New Zealand. If he had the assurance of the Opposition that he was not sent he would willingly apologise for. having said that. He would not go beyond that, because he had abundant proof to substantiate every other sentence he had uttered. An attempt had been made to discredit the 'New Zealand Labour Party and to defeat the Cooperative Commonwealth...Federation in Canada. He asked whether the' Opposition would deny that an article was prepared in New Zealand and sent to Canada—thousands of copies being put in circulation —to defeat the Canadian Co-operative Commonwealth Party? He displayed a pamphlet which, he said, was conclusive proof of his statement.. If any member of the National Party could bring proof 'and evidence and support it to the Leader of the Opposition or the Prime Minister that there never had been a leaflet or booklet circulated in Canada over the name of Mr. Nestor he would <nve £100 to any institution nominated either by Mr. Holland or Mr. Fra&er. He had not attacked Mr. Nestor personally, but was referring specifically to the pamphlet he had written. Would they say that Mr. Nestor did not attack New Zealand's Labour policy, with special reference to social security? ' A . Mr. R. M. Algie (National, Remuera): Read us some of the saucy bits. (Opposition laughter.) ~.■,./ ~ Mr. Richards said he would like the Opposition to take up his challenge. Mr. Poison: You had better write out your cheque. . „ ~ Mr. Richards: I am anxious for the people to know the truth.