NATIONAL PARTY SAYS COMMUNISM MENACES N.Z.

Grey River Argus, 5 April 1948, Page 3

NATIONAL PARTY SAYS COMMUNISM MENACES N.Z.

Government Urged V To Take Steps For Security w. I P.A. WELLINGTON, ApritfU“lf the Government will take stepf necessary to deal with the menace Communism to the security and M being of the country, it will wholehearted support and co-o™ tion of Opposition members”.statement issued by the' the Opposition, Mr S. G. HollajM the week-end, following' the of the Parliamentary Friday. Members of the considered that, if the provided sufficient should be enforced, and, law should be altered to necessary safeguards. Minister had said that were provided by the but, if that were the case, ed that the Government ent to use the powers "Y it by law. The recent public Holland, calling for strong action in restricting subvers|B:; t< tivities of Communists, was dorsed by the Caucus, which .decßH that, while it would alwaysxdefeß the right of freedom of speech; U.B would' not countenance the datjuset!■ this right by subversive elemenl which sought to take democratic privileges in overthrow the British systemßßßß mocracy, and to replace itarian tyranny. Such happenings as political revolution in the extension of tion in Europe, and man's dramatic call >7 duction of conscription following on the refusal munist-dominated countries operate in the tasks of peace, cited as a warning of the (laß| facing the world. The Queensland strike, with tendant bitterness, was also as an example of Communist,' The Caucus also endorsed cent statement by Mr Holland persons guilty of subversive actM should not be permitted to occupMM positions in which they duct Fifth Column 'activities, interests of a foreign Power. BB| a course had lately been ado].W|g|g the Labour Government in where the danger appeared to predated more fully than m Zealand. . “It is our opinion”, said MrJ|M land, “that to allow the Coirjs£» Party freedom to plan the ove±thrß of our democracy is equivalent to pen mittin g the mobilisation of an (enea tive Fifth Column in our midst. TB Opposition, representing almost of the present and than half a million voters, calls on the Government to„..takßßß necessary decisive action, and, fail ing such action, to call an emergent session of Parliament to enable til whole question to be discussed by tri elected representatives of the people It is our view that no person uni willing to take the oath of loyalty t New Zealand, or acknowledging all legiance to a foreign Power, is em titled to the benefits and privileges o: British citizenship. The sooner sue! persons depart to the source of then political philosophy the better foi New Zealand”.

MR FRASER’S STATEMENT WELLINGTON, ApiAl 4. There is to be no discussion between the Government and the (workers directly concerned in the hydroelectric dispute at the meeting held at "Mangakino to-day. ®jj|| The Prime Minister (Mr said that the meeting had arranged by the Mangakino of the Labour Party, and was aM||| lie meeting, to which all including womenfolk, had invited. _ , The dangers to the Labour ment' of the insidious encroachiWH by members of the Communist would probably be explained, Mr Fraser. The _ methods of Communists continuous attacks on Government, particularly®” , ’ - fomenting of would be dealt with, but be nothing in the nature oL®|||g|||H discussion. _ It would public political meeting. The Government was an®|||||||M those who depended for t,BSBIHB hood and r»'ace of residel®|. the continuation of the MarflPWqug other Waikato schemes should stand its point of view, and grasp fact that something more than a a« ference between any engineer afl any worker or workers was involve®