ALLEGED "RAMP"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 169, 19 July 1941, Page 8

ALLEGED "RAMP"

SERVICE APPEALS

FEELING IN COUNTRY

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. "To a certain extent the business of appeals is becoming a ramp," said Mr. Roy (National, Clutha) in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. There was a good deal of feeling right through the country on the question of appeals from service, he added. There did not seem to be any uniformity, for in certain districts appeals would be adjourned sine die and other cases apparently similar would be dismissed. It seemed that the time was approaching when a certain amount of straightening out was required before married men were called up.

Regarding conscientious objectors, he had every respect for genuine cases, but it seemed that to-day there were a tremendous lot of new religions and he could not believe that they were all genuine.

The returned soldiers were quite right when they said the time had arrived when there should be a halt. He agreed that those who objected to service should not object to being put on to army rates of pay and conditions.

Mr. Roy put in a plea for higher rates of pay for the rank and file in the army. He was sorry to see that there was no provision in the Budget for the men who went away to risk their lives, and even if they returned safely would show physical deterioration.

While paying a tribute to the enthusiasm of Home Guard members he said the position was that the Home Guard and army had not worked just as well together as they should have done, and' Home Guardsmen were saying that the time had arrived when the Home Guard should be definitely under army control. He had been asked to brine certain matters before the Housed but could not bring them all up because he thought certain changes were taking place which were verv desirable.