A QUESTIONNAIRE

Evening Star, Issue 25950, 15 November 1946, Page 3

A QUESTIONNAIRE

R.S.A. PROBE OF LEADERS’ VIEWS FULL DEFENCE POLICY AWAITS NEWS OF OBLIGATIONS (Special.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 15. The National Party would favour some form of universal .'service'so. that defence is not just left to the willing home and to the people within certain physical gradings, says its leader, Mr Holland, in reply to a question on defence policy asked of , both main political leaders by the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association. T , Mr Holland and the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, were asked to say whether their parties favoured voluntary, or, as is advocated by the R.S.A., a compulsory basis of defence. Mr Fraser does not touch this point specifically, but explains in terms of previous statements how the defence policy is awaiting the definition of New Zealand’s future commitments. Mr Holland also mentions this dependence on Pacific and Empire and United Nations .obligations, and adds that negotiations of a highly secret, technical, and far-reaching nature are already under way between Britain, and the dominions and between the members of the United Nations.

“ The Opposition has been consulted about these negotiations, and is unaware of any commitments entered into,” he adds. The replies of the two leaders to other questions posed them by the IR.S.A. follow generally the lines of their policy statements already made. On immigration, both give similar policies—namely, that the time is not i ip® to encourage any but single men and women needed here for jobs that cannot be filled by New Zealanders. The association’s objection to military defaulters being given the right to vote is answered by Mr Fraser with the fact that they are not being allowed to do so. Mr Holland says that “ those who refused to, fight for their country, or to render any alternative service, should not be permitted to play any part in its government, even in voting as to whom that Government should be.” Asked whether his party would support the granting of absolute employment preference to ex-servicemen and women, Mr Fraser declares that the Government would be prepared to do anything practicable along the lines adopted for' the - Civil Service, and would be glad to discuss the possibilities with the association. He explains that Labour’s objective is to . place evhry ex-servicemari and woman in at least as good a position as they would have had if their careers had not been interrupted. In additionj the new Public Service legislation for the transfer of temporary servants to permanent staff places emphasis on >var service rather than on qualification. An exserviceman, whether qualified or not, takes preference, over a civilian. On the otherMiand, Mr Holland says that, other things being equal, the National Party would always give preference to ex-servicemen in • employment. If tw r o men applied for a position, however, and the ex-soldier had poor qualifications, while the other, who may have been physically unfit to fight, had excellent qualifications, the party would not carry - preference to the extent of giving the. job to the poorly-qualified ex-serviceman. Answering quesions addressed to Jiimself alone, Mr Holland “ sympathetic and , helpful maintenance of rehabilitation;” ,He says, further, that stabilisation and certain other controls must be continued, until the effects of the present inflation: are overcome, but adds: “ To-day increases are granted to certain people, and similar increases are denied other sections of the community. ; That, is grossly unfair, and must be rectified.”