ACTION DEFENDED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 152, 29 June 1945, Page 8

ACTION DEFENDED

MR. HAMILTON SPEAKS

WHY REVIEWS ARE NEEDED

Parliamentai-y Reporter. WELLINGTON, this day "The regulations were agreed to by the War Cabinet, and I stand by that decision and defend the regulations," said Mr. A. Hamilton, Minister of War Expenditure in the War Cabinet, when speaking in the debate on military defaulters in the House of Representatives last night. The Minister said it had been stated that the regulations should have been brought before Parliament before being put into operation. "Running a war under j our democratic system is not easy," he continued. "If Parliament had to be called together to make all decisions, many things would not be done."

It was necessary to bring down the regulations. It seemed that the objections raised were not so much concerned with the revision authority as with the tima the amendment was introduced.. The question asked was: Why was it so late? He explained that when the war started most of the prophets, or those who held worthwhile opinions, considered the war would last three years. Now nearly six years had passed, and the war was not yet finished. Had it been finished in three years there would > have been no need for the amendment. It was necessary to review some of the cases because the War had continued much longer than anticipated. "Punishment Has Been Great" Most people would say that New Zealand's war effort had been reasonably good, said Mr. Hamilton. The military defaulter had been a serious hindrance, and must be punished. Defaulters' punishment had been great, and had been a great deterrent to others who were able to see what would happen to them if they defaulted. The result was that many went into the armed forces who otherwise would, not have done so. New Zealand had acknowledged in its law that the genuine conscientious objector need not serve. Those who were released would still have to make a contribution to the War Expenses Account. • He had no doubt that there were some genuine cases under detention.

Mr. Hamilton admitted there was strong feeling concerning military defaulters. It could be called a heresy hunt. Mr. Hamilton, added that the supervisor of detention camps. Mr. Greenberg, had been instructed to report on the position a long time ago. It was on his report that the amendment to the regulations was framed. The Minister said he did not think there would be many men released. He did not like to make a prophecy, but he did not think the number would exceed 100.