N.Z. WAR EFFORT

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1940, Page 2

N.Z. WAR EFFORT

IS IT NEGLIGIBLE ? QUESTION IN HOUSE [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, December 5. Some comment on criticism' of New Zealand’s wai’ effort was occasioned when the House met to-day by a question which.. Mr. E., P. Meachen (Govt., /Marlborough) addressed to the Prime Minister. He gave notice to ask Mr. Fraser: If attention has been drawn to the report of a speech of Mr. F. W. Doidge (Nat., Tauranga) to the effect that New Zealand’s war effort was negligible, and that we had sent only a mere handful of men overseas. In view of the far-reaching effects of such statements on New Zealand’s war effort generally, and on the- British public he (Mr. Meachen) asked the Prime Minister if he would, in conjunction with the Leader of the Opposition, take suitable steps to curb “the misleading, extravagant, incorrect, and often irresponsible statements which had been appearing.” Mr. Holland (Opposition Leader) I, protested to the Speaker against the being tabled. It was giving Mr. Doidge no right of reply. It would not make for unity in the war effort. The Speaker said he could only be concerned with the point of whether the question complied with the rules of the House, and he did give the matter serious consideration before he passed the notice of the question. Mr. Fraser said that, if possible, he would try to meet the wishes of the House. If Mr. Doidge felt that he should have an opportunity of expressing his opinion, an occasion might be found.

BALLOT APPEALS

In an urgent question to the Minister of National Service (Mr. Semple), Mr. G. J. Cullen (Govt., Hawke’s Bay) asked if the Minister would review the National Emergency Regulations, with a view to ensuring that persons called up in any ballot were notified where appeals had been lodged against or for, the postponement of their service by anyone other than the reservist himself.

The Minister of National Service, in reply, said that all appeals received by the Man Power Committees were acknowledged as soon as they were received. If a man appealed himself on the grounds of public interest, a copy of the acknowledgement was also sent to his employer. In all cases where an appeal was lodged by some other person, such as an employer, parent, etc., a copy of the acknowledgement of the appeal was sent to the man in respect of whom the appeal was lodged. Similar procedure was adopted in connection with appeals forwarded to the Director of Natiorfhl Service for men Called up for overseas service. Mr. W. P. Endean (Nat. Remuera), in an urgent question to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, asked if he would grant permission for friends and relatives and other persons in New Zealand to send to each member of the Expeditionary Force abroad five pounds for Christmas. Mr. Nash expressed regret that nothing could be done in the meantime, but he promised to give further consideration to the question, and, if the essential sums were available, he would recommend that some alteration be made at a later date.

ACCIDENT COMPENSATION Pensions under the War Pensions Act for those meeting with accident or injury while linked with the Home Guard and other necessary precautions corps for the defence of the Dominion were explained, by the Minister for Finance when he moved the second reading of the Finance Bill (No. 4). Emergency organisations and women’s auxiliary organisations were covered by the clause, the Minister explained. An important amendment of the Social Security Act dealt with income, Mr. Nash said. Under the existing law, the proceeds of insurance policies and compensation in' case of accident, were exempted from the definition of income. The compensation grant usually paid by the Government on the death of a public servant, and by a public body, was treated as income. In the past that had meant that the widow had lost the social security benefit for the first year. That was being amended.

SECRET SESSION WELLINGTON, December 5. When the House resumed at 7.30 this evening, it immediately went into secret session for the remainder of the evening. WELLINGTON, December 6. When the secret session ended at 12.50 this morning, the following official statement was issued by the Speaker: “The Prime Minister reviewed developments in the international field since last secret session. The present position in the various theatres of war was also dealt with. He indicated progress made in the provision of munitions and supply generally. Problems of local defence and steps taken to meet the requirements of the situation were outlined by him. Twenty-one other speakers took part in the debate.”