ARMY CALL-UP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 54, 5 March 1943, Page 2

ARMY CALL-UP

SCRIMGEOUR APPEAL MR. LEE'S QUESTIONS (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Aspects of the recent hearing before the Armed Forces Appeal Board of the case of Mr. C. G. Scrimgeour, controller of the Commercial Broadcasting Service," were ventilated by Mr. Lee (Democrat Labour, Grey Lynn) in the House of Representatives last night during the Address-in-Reply debate. Mr. Lee declared that the tribunal had been used not to recruit for the army, but to "railroad" a person. The matter could pot end where it was, but should be the subject of a clear-cut statement. Mr. Lee alleged that the Minister of Broadcasting, Mr. Wilson, had used the Armed Forces Appeal Board as an instrument of Ministerial vengeance. "Principle at Stake" Mr. Lee said there was a principle at stake, which could not be settled by a newspaper paragraph. There was not a person who knew what transpired before the Armed Forces Appeal Board who did not realise that it raised doubts in the minds of everybody whether certain people would use the ballot not to recruit for the army, but to defend themselves from certain people. Every member on both sides of the House knew this. Regardless of what happened to Scrimgeour, unless this doubt was removed, a wrong would be done. When men's lives were the subject of ballots it was not right that Ministers should be able to say, "Open slather here," or "A close season there." It would not be right for a Minister to be .promoted to Washington or Ottawa if he was unfit to look after a Department in this country. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland: Is that likely? Mr. Lee: The gentleman is so unintelligent that it would not surprise me if he were sorted out for the highest position in which the Government could place him. The Minister of Health, Mr. Nordmeyer, rose to a point of order, protesting against the use of the word "unintelligent." Mr. Speaker said he had never previously barred the word, and he had heard stronger words used on occasions. Question of Discrimination Mr. Lee stated that he had always been opposed to the calling up of 40-year-old men with three children, and he did not care who was concerned. He felt 'that the Armed Forces Appeal Board was used as an instrument of Ministerial vengeance. He had read that mobilisation orders for certain classes had been issued, and then suspended, and on inquiry as to whether this case should be suspended, the answer came back, "No. Go ahead." Mr. Lee asked who could justify this action? Members of the Government could not justify

Mr. Schramm '(Government, Auckland East): I am against it; against discrimination. The Minister of Justice, Mr. Mason: What discrimination? Mr. Lee: Other civil servants were appealed for in a certain way, but it is "open slather" for somebody whom the Minister said in Court had been disloyal to him.

There was a chorus of Government dissent, one member shouting, "You are quite wrong."

Continuing, Mr. Lee accused the Minister of Broadcasting of evasiveness in his evidence. Mr. Wilson had said that he had a man to replace Mr. Scrimgeour, not necessarily in New Zealand. Did the Minister mean that he could import someone at great expense because he wanted a loyal servant and a "backscratcher?" The Minister had replaced Mr. Scrimgeour with a man who had been acting as a gaoler.

It was wrong for people, to go into an office, take off the lock and prevent a person from getting access to his correspondence —everyone knew that. When the Prime Minister went to Great Britain someone entered Mr. Scrimgeour's office and sealed it. "I was one of those who protested-" continued Mr. Lee. Appeal Board Statements Mr. Poison (National, Stratford): That is the Foulkes plan. Mr. Lee contrasted the statements made at the appeal hearing by the Minister of Broadcasting and Mr. Scrimgeour, declaring that the differences would have to be cleared up because obviously statements had been made which were not true. Both could not t>e correct. Mr. Mason: I confess I do not know what you are talking about. Mr. Lee: Everybody else in New Zealand understands. Mr. Schramm: There was a committee set up. Mr. Lee: There is no doubt about it. Does the Minister deny that? Mr. Robertson (Government, Masterton): What committee? It was not for that purpose at all. Mr. Lee: To determine the policy of ZB stations. Government Members: You are wrong. • Continuing, Mr. Lee said that the different statements made on oath would have to be cleared up because they had "left a nasty taste in the mouth." Mr. Poison: They locked him out, and then reinstated him. Mr. Lee: I do not know that they have reinstated him. If he is reinstated, that does not solve the problem. We are still entitled to know why the lock was taken off his office, and whether the person who is acting-controller is the person "not necessarily in New Zealand." Mr. Doidge (National, Tauranga): He would look mighty queer if he is. Mr. Lee: If injustice has been done, the sooner it is corrected the better, and I do not think it right for the public not to know all the circumstances. "All members will agree it is a matter of public interest, and cannot end where it is, and there should be a clear cut statement," declared Mr. Lee. "The public mind on this matter is that a tribunal was used, not for recruiting for the army, but to railroad someone the Minister did not want. Mr. Mason: No. Mr. Chapman (Government, Wellington North), who followed Mr. Lee in the debate, said it was the Government policy that no civil servant directly under Ministerial control could be appealed for. Mr. Scrimgeour had not been appealed for, and had not been discriminated against. He simply had to take his chance with ths Appeal Board, and he lodged his appeal himself.

Mr. Schramm (Government, Auckland East): He was called out of his turn. It is not settled yet.

Mr. Lee: If he was called out of his turn, the people responsible should be dealt with.