WAR SITUATION

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23353, 12 June 1941, Page 6

WAR SITUATION

FULLER INFORMATION WANTED DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, June 11. The public demand for fuller information about the war was emphasised by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) when speaking to a point of order immediately before the House of Representatives went into secret session to-day to hear and discuss the latest developments in the waf situation. The cry to-day, he said, was for news, and not merely propaganda. Replying to Mr Holland, the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. w. Nash) said that all information that the public could have and should have had been given. Mr Holland said it was desirable before the House went into secret session to have one or two matters cleared up regarding the conduct ot such a session. Secret sessions had been something of an experiment, and there should be a clear understanding as to what was involved. He thought that many members, including a number on the Government benches, were of the opinion that the previous secret sessions had not altogether served their proper function. The opinion had been expressed that 95 per cent, of the information given in a secret session could be given in an open session. What gave him cause for concern was the recent statement of the ActingPrime Minister that not more than 5 per cent, of the people realised what was at stake in this war. ‘‘There has never been a time since the outbreak of war when there has been a greater need for information about the war to be given to the public,” said Mr Holland. ‘.‘A secret session will not satisfy that demand for information. The public expects the Government to give it information. This is a people’s war, it is not Parliament’s war. I do not think it is the intention of the Government to withhold information unnecessarily, and in secret session only those things should be said which it is necessary to regard as secret.” Mr Holland suggested that the Department of Censorship and Publicity might be separated, when he was called to order by Mr Speaker, who said it was rather outside the scope of the question raised by Mr Holland. ‘‘News and not merely propaganda is what the public is expecting from the Government,” said Mr Holland. ‘‘Morale will not be sustained by keeping the people in the dark. A good Iqad has been given by the House of Commons, which openly discussed the camnaigns in Greece and Crete. The tendency here has been to discuss such matters in secret session.” Mr Nash said that in the last two years there had been nothing hidden from the public of the Dominion that could have been given to it. Other than information of advantage to the enemy, there had been nothing hidden. There was apparently some misunderstanding with regard to secret sessions. Members apparently thought that that which they said could not be said out of secret session. Anything said in secret session could be said out of it. provided it was not giving information to the enemy, and provided it was not stated that it was said in secret session. Mr Nash’s Reply “This Government does not shirk a debate on any question.” the ActingPrime Minister said, “and more information of real validity has been given to our people than in other countries. Just because we do not wrangle in Parliament it does not mean that the people are not getting the information.” Mr Nash said that even quite innocent things which had been said in the New Zealand House had been twisted by the enemy and by Dr. Goebbels to give a totally different meaning to other countries in an endeavour to lead them to think that the British Commonwealth was weakening. Some things could be said in London quite safely, but if they were said here the enemy would say that they meant disintegration of the British Commonwealth. “All I am concerned about is to get the maximum discussion, and information to the people of this Dominion, provided it does not affect the war effort,” Mr Nash said. “It has never been thought that just because a word or thought is uttered in secret session it should not be used outside.” Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition, Stratford): Who.,is to be judge of when a thing is right? Mr W. S, Goosman (Opposition, Waikato): Is there not a penalty for disclosing things said in secret session. Mr Nash said more information had been given to members of this House than to those of any other Parliament of the Commonwealth. The Government had been as complete and open as it could be, Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition. Riccarton); What is your authority for that? Mr Nash: I know what is done in other parts. Referring to Mr Holland’s comment on his statement that not 5 per cent, of the people of the Dominion knew the issues at stake, Mr Nash said that was true when he made it. and it was still true. He thought the percentage would gradually increase. He was concerned thgt there were not more than five persons out of 100 who knew, for instance, that Germany to-day had full control of all the technical and manufacturing establishments of the major countries of the whole world other than the United States of America. The inference in Mr Holland’s comment was that the Government was to be blamed because only 5 per cent. knew. It was not “hush hush.” It was only that the people did not quietly and consistently look at the issues. Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn): Anybody who would do the same again in Greece obviously would not be one of the 5 per cent. Mr Nash: I am coming to that later. Mr Nash said he thought secret sessions were justified. He would have to say a number of things in secret that could be said outside; but that was no reason why such things should not be said outside. Secret sessions should be as short as possible, and as infrequent as possible, but the fewer secret sessions the more secrecy there would be, because if the Government did not have secret sessions to give the information it had, it could not tell it to anyone. Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga); As long as it is not chloroforming Parliament. Mr Nash: It would take a very strong dose of chloroform to stop the member for Tauranga talking. The House then went into secret session. The following report was issued by the authority of Mr Speaker at the conclusion of the secret sitting at 12.35 a.m.: "The Acting-Prime Minister reviewed in detail the operations in Greece and Crete, in which New Zealand forces were engaged, the various considerations being set out which led to the operations being undertaken. Recent developments in the international situation were outlined. Particulars were also given of the present position of the training and supply of men for overseas, and for home defence, and of the munitions situation. Twelve other speakers took part in the discussion.”