PUBLIC HEARINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 147, 23 June 1945, Page 9

PUBLIC HEARINGS

DEFAULTERS' APPEALS

START ON WEDNESDAY

The hearing of appeals by military defaulters in detention camps under regulations as amended recently are to be open to the public and the Press, according to the Acting Prime Minister (Mr. Nash). He stated last night that the revision authorities appointed to consider applications for release on parole from defaulters' detention camps would begin their sittings simultaneously in Auckland and Palmerston North on Wednesday next. It was reiterated by Mr. Nash, that before any applicant could hope to succeed with his application, he must satisfy the revision authority that he holds a conscientious belief that would prevent his participation in war.

"Statements to the effect that the regulations provide that sittings are to be held in camera are quite incorrect, said Mr. Nash. "The regulations provide that the .attendance of the Press and the public at sittings of the revision authority is a matter-for determination by the authorities themselves. I understand that both Mr. A. H. Johnstone, X.C, and Mr. W. H. Woodward. S.M., intend to hold their sittings openly to the public and the Press. "There may be occasions, as in all judicial proceedings, in which it is proper to hear certain matters m private, but these will be determined as they arise. Notwithstanding statements made to the contrary, the regulations provide also for the attendance of representatives of the Crown at all sittings, and the Minister of Justice has already given effect to this provision in making the necessary appointments. "The position of every man released on parole will be considered by the special tribunal so as to ensure that in the matter of the earnings he is allowed to retain he is not placed in a better position than if he were serving in the Armed Forces.

"The procedure .of the revision authorities," concluded Mr. Nash, "is to be straightforward and open, subject only to the regulations and to the evaluation of the merits of each application on the part of the two eminent gentlemen selected for the task. The decision of the War Cabinet to proceed with the revision would tend to bring the position of the men who lost their original appeals into line with the position in Great Britain, where provision is made for conscience cases to be reheard by appellant tribunals."