INFORMING THE PUBLIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 100, 24 October 1942, Page 6

INFORMING THE PUBLIC

The problem of man-power is so vital to the successful prosecution of the war and the consequences of its solution so closely affect every section of the community that it is highly desirable that all information that it is possible to give to the public should be given. It must be recognised, of course, that there is a limit to what can be safely said publicly, especially when developments are taking place in the Pacific and elsewhere which may change the whole war situation, but the public are entitled to something more than the bare statement issued after the secret session of Parliament on Thursday night. The report states that the Prime Minister "then introduced the question of the utilisation of man-power in the Dominion, information on the matter having been circulated to members." To the public this means nothing at all. There is not the slightest indication of the lines of policy which the Government is following or whether Parliament, which exists to safe«3gascl j__g ;J jfflteEestSr^. the jgeojjle^

approved" .or disapproved, of. what is being done. Statements recently made by Mr. Coates and Mr. Sullivan gave a certain amount of information, but did not by any means present a complete picture of the man-power position. There were too many blanks. The public are naturally anxious that these blanks should be filled in, that they should be told, with as much detail as possible, what is expected of them. An informed public will respond much more readily to demands made upon them' than a public from which information is withheld. Secret sittings of the House are obviously necessary under | certain circumstances, but when subjects are discussed which closely affect the future of everybody a basis for confidence should be established by giving to the public the information they are.eagerly awaiting. The proceedings of the House cannot, of course, be divulged, bat the basis of facts and the broad policy agreed upon can be made known. The Prime Minister owes it to the public to take them into his confidence so far as is possible on the all-important question of the utilisation of manpower and at the earliest possible moment.. A better public understanding of this.issue and all that it involves will do more than any propaganda to assure the helpful cooperation of the people.