FLOCK OF QUESTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 23908, 11 June 1941, Page 4

FLOCK OF QUESTIONS

RAGING AND THE WAR EFFORT COMPULSORY HEME GUARD SERVICE d’.A .1 WELLINGTON, .him* JO, The largo number of questions put to Ministers when tlie House resumed tliis afternoon contained many having a keen political edge, suggesting that Opposition ’ mem hers are in critical mood Notice of a question was given by Mr W. P. Kncloan (Opposition, I’emuera) asking the Minister of .Justice, Air Ma son. whether tlie flogging ordered liy Mr Justice Biair had been carried out on the prisoners who escaped from tlie Auckland gaol after assaulting warders. Mr Kndean contended that the failure to carry out the sentence would mean removal of a deterrent to others and might affect discipline in the gaols of the Dominion. Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition, Stratford! gave notice to ask the, .Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, whether he hnrl considered the effect of the increased totaiisator investments on the national savings campaign, and whether the increase did not weaken and to some extent foil the objective of the campaign; also whether the Minister did not consider the time had arrived to reduce the number of rare days in New Zealand during the war The dilhcnlt.v experienced by country districts in obtaining adequate medical services was emphasised by Mr J. O’Brien (Government, Westland) when he gave notice to ask (he Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer, if lie would consider the employment of qualifier] medical men from overseas in order to give the necessary medical services to country districts. He inr.taneed the case of the whole of Westland iron'. Hari Hari, to Jackson’s Bay, whicli for several months had been unable to obtain the services of a doctor. Tlie Kumara district, he added, had been unable to obtain a residential doctor for years. The action of certain men at the Westfield freezing works recently in stopping work to attend the races was the subject of an urgent question to the Acting Prime Minister, -Mr W. Nash, by Mr J. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga), who asked whether, in view of this action, the Government would follow the example of the United Kingdom and introduce legislation making such action in wartime punishable, cither by fine or imprisonment. Mr Nash, in reply, said; “The Government is giving full consideration to steps which may be necessary to deal with persons or organisations whose acts may be detrimental to public morale and war effort.”

, An explanation of the derailment of the engine of the Wellington-Auckland Limited express last Saturday near the Ohakuno viaduct was sought by Mr W. S. Goosman (Opposition, Waikato) in an urgent question to the Acting Minister of Railways, Mr Sullivan. Answering for Mr Sullivan, who was absent on account of a family bereavement, Mr Nash said the line was being , reballasted and heavy rain had caused a slight subsidence, which, in spite of the observance of a speed restriction by the engine crew, had caused the derailment. Every possible step was being taken in respect of the rolling stock and the permanent way to ensure the safety of passengers and train crews. In an urgent question to the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, Mr Poison asked for an opportunity to discuss the reorganisation of the Home Guard, with particular reference to making it compulsory for moi) between the age limits to serve either in the Homo Guard or some other branch of the E.P.S. Mr Jones said the question was really one for the Acting Prime Minister as Leader of the House, but ho would be pleased to discuss whether it would be possible for arrangements to be made as suggested by Mr Poison. On behalf of the member for Napier, Mr W. E. Barnard. Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn) gave notice to ask Mr Nash whether the Government would provide more adequate funds to cover the cost of the necessary work carried out by the Home Guard. Replying to an urgent Question by Mr Lee, who acted on behalf of Mr Barnard, Mr Nash said he had approached the Army authorities and the cable companies to see if cablegrams from members of the New Zealand forces overseas could have the date of despatch added. He understood that cablegrams had reached New Zealand recently with the date of despatch on them, so that it was apparent that the request Lad been favourably considered.