NATIONAL PARTY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 98, 21 January 1944, Page 4

NATIONAL PARTY

Decisions Of Caucus Meeting

LIQUOR TRADE INQUIRY

A. decision to press for an early session of Parliament, “in view of the very important questions facing the country,” was made at a caucus of the National Party members of Parliament at Parliament Buildings yesterday. The prospect of the House not being called together before the end of February was unacceptable to the caucus, which considered that the delay was too great. Announcing this decision last night, the Leader of'the Opposition, Mr. Holland, who presided, said that the view oi the Opposition would be represented strongly and without delay to the Government. The caucus was the second held by the Opposition members since the general election, and again every member, with' the .exception of Brigadier J. Hargcst, who is overseas, was present. The caucus concluded at about 11 o’clock last night. The agenda covered a wide range of subjects, and free discussion was reported by Mr. Holland.

Another decision of the caucus was to continue to press the Government to carry out its promise to implement the National Party’s proposal for the setting up of a royal commission to inquire into the conduct of the liquor trade. Mr. Holland said that he had announced the policy of the National Party to investigate all phases of the operations of the Licensing Act at Auckland in April, and the Prime Minister had adopted the proposal on the eve oi the election, stating that a commission would be appointed. That promise had not been carried out, though nearly four months had passed. Opposition members would demand that there should be no further delay in investigating a question of immense interest to all people in New Zealand. A decision to insist on an immediate investigation into anomalies of taxation as they affected superannuitants was also made by the caucus. Mr. Holland said that on the day before the general election the Prime Minister had made the announcement that the anomalies would be investigated within one month, and the caucus had decided that whatever committee was to make the investigation should operate without any further delay.

Two whips were appointed. They are Messrs. W. J. Broadfoot (Wailomo) and T. L. MacDonald (Mataura). Mr. Broadfoot has been whip for some years and Mr. Mad Donald returned to New Zealand in August, having been invalided home after service as a captain with the 2nd N.Z.E.F.

Following the approval of the first caucus of Mr. Holland’s proposal to appoint committees to deal with various subjects, committees 'were appointed. Mr. Holland stated that committees to investigate other subjects were in the process of formation, but the committees so far appointed were so wide in scope that all political topics could be expeditiously handled in the meantime. The personnel of the committees is as follows: — Primary production (includes dairy, meat, wool, external and internal marketing, wheat, flour, grain and linen-flax) : Messrs. K. J. Holyoake, W. J. Polson, A. J. Murdoch, AV. IS. 'Goosman, S. W. ■Smith, D. O. Kidd, J. Acland, R. G. Gerard, E. B. K. Gordon and W. H. Gillespie. This committee will be divided into sections to do its work. Cost of living (includes rationing) : Messrs. A. S. Sutherland. W.- S. Sheat, E. P. Aderman, S. W. Smith. Education (includes moral issues): Messrs. IV. A. Bodkin, M. H. Oram, E. P. Aderman. R. M. Algie. Foreign , (includes foreign affairs and international law) : Messrs. R. M. Algie, T. J. Watte, T. O. Webb, F. AV. Doidge. Housing (includes fair rent) : Messrs. W. Stillivan, F. Findlay, E. B. Corbett, G. F. Sim.

Social security (includes hospitals and health and ’ prevention of sickness) : Messrs. A. J. Murdoch, F. Findlay, J. Acland. Industries (includes industrial efficiency and - research) : Messrs. C. M. Bowden. J. T. Watts, M. H, Oram and W. 'Sullivan. Legal (includes constitutional, Standing Orders, Orders-in-Council, Abstract of Statistics) : Messrs. C. G. E. Harker, T. C. 'Webb, R. M. Algie, 11. T. Morton. Labour (includes manpower) : Messrs. W. A. Sheat, R. G. Gerard, J. N. Massey, A. S. Sutherland. Land (includes land settlement and Maori land) : Messrs. W. J. Broadfoot, E. B. K, Gordon, T. L. Macdonald. Fruit (includes vegetables) : Messrs. J. N. Massey, K. J. Holyoake, W. A. Bodkin. D. C. Kidd. Works (includes electricity, roads, transport, railways) : Messrs. AV, S. Goosman, G. H. Mackley, E. B. Corbett, J. McL. Roy. Postal (includes post office, publicity, broadcasting, censorship): Messrs. F. W. Doidge, C. G. E. Harker, W. H. Gillespie, W. J. Broad foot. Finance (includes taxation, banking, lease-lend, import control) : Messrs. W. J._ Polson, C. M. Bowden, G. 11. Mackley, W. S. Goosman. Rehabilitation (include*? vocational training): Messrs. T. L. Macdonald, G. F. Sim, H. T. Morton, J. McL. Roy.

OBITUARY

Mrs. M. Mcßae

The many friends and associates of Dr. and Mrs. M. Meßiic who, after jiine years’ residence in England, recently returned to New Zealand, will regret to learn that Mrs. Mcßae died at a private hospital in Wellington yesterday. On her arrival in Wellington 20 years ago. Mrs, Mcßae became an enthusiastic worker in the League of Mothers,, and took an active part in the relief of distress during the depression years. .Settling down in England later she linked up with the Associated Women of the World. With distinction she represented the Dominion and gave lectures in many parts of England, and in addition was instrumental in doing much in the way of advertising the Dominion for potential settlers. At the outbreak of the war she became an executive worker of the British Legion for the County of Surrey. She was also an active member of the Scottish Polish Society, and rendered great service in succouring refugee children and attending to their welfare. Mrs. Mcßae worked energetically during the dark days of the evacuation of Dunkirk in rendering aid to the returning men. She was one of thousands of workers cutting sandwiches in the fields as the trains rolled past for six days and six nights laden with exhausted men. She was one of many who lived in an area containing three lighter aerodromes which had to be defended to the limit during the Battle of Britain. Her home was open to many airmen and naval men from New Zealand, and she felt deeply the death of many young New Zealanders who had experienced the hospitality of her home. She is survived by her husband, her son, Thomas Mcßae, aged 23, who is an aeronautical engineer serving in the United Kingdom, and her daughter, Sheila, aged 17, who is a boarder at St. Matthew’s College, Masterton.