NEW ZEALAND’S WAR EFFORT

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23811, 3 December 1942, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND’S WAR EFFORT

SECRET DISCUSSION

BY HOUSE

MR FRASER TO SPEAK IN OPEN SESSION

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. Manpower and other important aspects of the war effort would be discussed by members during the current portion of the session, said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) in the House of Representatives to-day, when giving an outline of the business contemplated for the next day or so. ' , , . He proposed that the House should meet at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow, and that after the formal business it should adjourn to the soc where members would meet the Chiefs of Staff, the Director of Manpower, and others, and would be able to ask them questions directly. The House would meet again formally at 2.JU p.m. but provision would be made for a continuation of the informal sitting if necessary. At some stage he would make a statement on the war situation in public session and over the air, because he thought the war situation had reached a stage when such a statement could be made. Mr Fraser intimated that the press might be present at the secret sittings. ... The Leader of the .Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) agreed with Mr Fraser’s proposed programme of business, but asked if a discussion could not be held in open session on industrial manpower. Mr Fraser said that there were grave difficulties in the way of such a discussion. We were under an obligation to the British and American Governments as to what we might and might not reveal. He said that, for instance, the delay in publication of New Zealand casualties had not been caused by the Government, but had only been allowed after repeated representations had been made. He also added that as a result of New Zealand’s overtures the South Pacific Command had decided to “open up somewhat.”

Mr Fraser also urged caution in public statements, saying that it had been drawn to his notice that at some semi-public meetings there had been people who had even ■ made reference to troop movements, including the sailing of reinforcements. Mr Holland: Is the Prime Minister referring to me?

Mr Fraser: I am not referring to you. Why ask that?

Mr Holland said that some reference had been made to him in the Labour weekly newspaper, and the Prime Minister replied that Mr Holland apparently was a closer student of that paper than himself. Mr Holland: But when you make a statement like that you impugn us all.

Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition, Stratford); You are not suggesting anyone on this side of the House. Mr Fraser said that he was not, but was only giving a warning. ‘‘We would like to give the widest possible information,” he added, ‘‘but are only prevented from doing so out of loyalty to our responsibilities.”