REPATRIATION

Evening Star, Issue 16912, 9 December 1918, Page 7

REPATRIATION

GOVERNS TENT’S POLICY ASSAILED. BILL SQUEEZES THROUGH. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, December 7. The Repatriation Bill, which was twice hold up on Friday, came on for further consideration in committee to-day. There was an immediate revival of attack on tho proposal to set up a Ministerial board of four members of the Government. Meml bers of all parties contended for single Minister control of tho new Repatriation Department, and a few members were fortified by telegraphed protests from returned soldiers. GOVERNMENT OBDURATE. Tire Defence Minister (Sir James Allen) set his face against tho demand, and announced that neither bo nor tho Government would be driven. Then Mr MT.'ornbs and Mr Holland vehemently protested against being dragooned into accepting, willy nilly, the Government's policy. Captain Downio Stewart charged to the heart of the clamor, and moved to substitute control by one Minister- for divided control by a board of four. GOVERNMENT POLICY DEFENDED. _lhe Minister of Finance (Sir Joseph M ard) made a vigorous speech in defence of the Government’s policy, emphasising that tho proposed board could do infinitely more for the success of this important scheme than one Minister could do. The establishment of the board would facilitate :n every way* the administrative work of repatriation. He believed that the soldiers who were making representation for one Minister of Repatriation were mistaken. Xho Minister of Education (Hon. Mr Hunan) also made a spirited defence of the Government. Xno Prime Minister informed tho House that tlie chairman of tho board would be tho Prime, Minister, but in his absence the senior Minister would act. If Sir James .■illen could see his way to accept it ho (-Mr Massey) personally would be very pleased. Iho amendment was rejected by 54 to 27 \otos. Following is tho division list; For tho Board. F'or Single Minister. --Mien Anderson Anstoy Bollard Buddo Dickson, J. M‘C. Carroll Dickson, J. S. Coffin Field, T. A. FI. Craigio Field, W. 11. Dickie Fraser. P. RII Harris’ Forbes Holland Fraser, Sir W. Hornsby G-uthno Hudson II a nan Lee Herrioa Luke Hunter M'Combs Rltt _ Nosworthy Jennings Parr M’Callum Reed M acDoua.l d It ho n c 3 Mrmder Scott Massey etailunn Myers Stewart Newman, E. Sykes Pearce Voitch Poland Walker Pumaro Wilkinson Poole Wright Russell Young Sidey Smith. G-. H. Smith. R. \V. Talbot Ward Wili’ord Wit tv THE LOCAL COMMITTEES. Mr P. Fraser moved an amendment that one-fourth of the members of tho local . committees should bo elected by returned . soldiers and one-fourth by trade unions. j Mr Ell suggested that, instead of one- j fourth, soldiers and trade organisations j should have one member each. | Mr LIU oxpiv-f-x.l the opinion that members of Pai'liamc.nt should sit on local c-o’umittoes. To thi.-, tho Defence Minister said bo did not think it would be v.n-e to put members iu an ex officio capacity on Local com mi t tees. Mr Downio Stewart urged Mr Fra; - ■■ wot. to nre?s Ids amendment, expressing the