PM Holland declares state of emergency, 1951

Hear the declaration of a state of emergency being read out by Prime Minister Holland, 21 February 1951.

Transcript

Yesterday, Tuesday, at noon, I called the representatives of the watersiders to my room. And I issued them what would be interpreted as being an ultimatum. And said that the government would be loath to take any extreme action, but we felt that, if conditions of emergency did exist, that we would require the powers of such a proclamation to deal with the situation. Now we didn't take the action that some people would expect of us, and that is to declare a state of emergency there and then. We disclosed to the watersiders themselves knowledge of our intention and said unless work is resumed—normal work throughout New Zealand, is resumed on the wharves tomorrow—that's today now, Wednesday, then a proclamation of emergency will be declared.

[End]