GREYMOUTH DEPUTATIONS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 56, 8 March 1919, Page 9

GREYMOUTH DEPUTATIONS

TO THE HON. T. M. WILFORD.

(BI TELEGRAPH.—PRSS9 ASSOCIATION.)

GREYMOUTH, 7th March. The Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister cf Marine, who arrived here last night, received the members of the Greymouth Harbour Board to-day as a deputation. Suggestions were submitted to the Minister to place the board on a better financial footing. The Minister undertook to consult the Minister of Railways on his return to Wellington, with tfie object of arranging a solution of the difficulties of the board, -which at present owes the Government £21,000 in connevtion with loans. He thought the board should leave a railway area, and if a rate were struck the Government could give a subsidy, but it was necessary to ascertain how the board stood towards the Railway Department financially before anything could be done. This evening the Minister received a deputation from the Grey port watersiders, advocating the better lighting of the wharf, and promised favourable consideration of the matter.

A large deputation representing local returned soldiers, supported by the Labour Party, asked for the release of P. C. Webb. . ■'

Mr. Holland, M.P., introduced deputations representing the Labour Party, the seamen, and others, asking for the release of conscientious objectors, also the Green Ray editor and publisher, and Alice Parkinson. The deputation also urged the Minister to oppose the proposal of the Defence Minister regarding four months' compulsory military service for 18-year-old youths, and to take action to secure for seamen the right to vote at the April liquor referendum. In reply, Mr. Wilford said the question of the release of conscientious objectors and military offenders waa one of policy, and was for the Cabinet's decision. "Personally," said Mr. Wilford,. "I will not help any conscientious objector or military prisoner to snap the 'positions required by returning 6oldiers. The ■ latter's . needs come first in my opinion." Regarding the Green Ray prisoners, Cabinet had already decided to take no action. In the matter of Alice Parkinson, he would look into the facts of the case, and make a pronouncement later. In regard to the proposal of tbe Minister of Defence for four months' training at camps, he would defer reply until he had ascertained the actual value of the proposal. As to the seamen's vote, he would, as Minister of Marine, see that they got the vote.

The Minister will leave on his return to Wellington this morning.