NATHAN INCIDENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1941, Page 6

NATHAN INCIDENT

REFERENCE IN PARLIAMENT. LABOUR MEMBER SUGGESTS BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. iP.v Teleeraph—Press Association.) ( 5 WELLINGTON, This Day. ‘‘l doubt whether the reply is not a broach of the privilege of the House, and I regard the innuendo as one of reproach to the Minister and tne police,” said Mr McKeen (Government,’Wellington South),, when referring- to a letter published m the Wellington Press from Mr H. L. Nathan, who had made allegations that he had been threatened by certain trades union officials during the recent municipal election campaign. Mr Nathan’s letter was in reply to a statement made by the Minister in Charge or Police, Mr Webb, about the poli.ee investigations into the incident. “Mr Nathan challenges the Minister and police to deny that there was simple evidence on which any magistrate would have sent the case to a jury,” said Mr McKeen, “and he further asked whether the Minister approached the police or whether the police consulted the Minister before it was decided that there was no evidence on which a conviction could have been obtained. Those who know the police force of the Dominion know that it stands as one of high integrity and every member of this House knows that if there had been sufficient evidence the persons responsible would .have been brought to book.” Mr McKeen outlined in detail the sequence of events that followed the accusations made by Mr Nathan, and said he was convinced that the whole incident had been greatly exaggerated. The integrity of trades union secretaries was just as valuable as any stockbroker’s, he concluded.