PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 September 1944, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

WELLINGTON, Sept. 21. Consideration of the estimates of expenditure occupied the attention of the House to-day. Mr. McDonald (Nat., Mataura), speaking to the estimate of £12,960 ior the Organisation ior National Development, said it was obvious there had to be preparation for post-war expansion. Such preparation must involve a survey and planning. He asked how far had the survey gone. Who was doing the planning and what part would free enterprise have? Was the new, Department just another growth of the bureaucratic machine? . Mr. Carr (Govt., Timaru), said that, prior to last,election, an informal committee of Members had discussed some phases of industrial development, including decentralisation of industry. That committee had, to a certain extent, paved the way for this new Department, which sought to achieve some semblance of order in the development of industry through the Dominion; Mr. Fraser expressed the belief that the Organisation for National Development would justify itself 100 per cent. He could see no other way to the co-ordination of national industrial life. It was an organisation which had arisen to meet a particular need, as had been the Organisation for National Security, prior to the outbreak of war, under the Defence Committee. The Organisation for National Development was an organisation for peace. It could not be set up earlier, as the Governments full attention was occupied by the war. But now that the peak of organising for war had passed, everyone agreed there should be an organisation for peace. It would work through committees, on which would be represented various Government Departments concerned, and _ also those groups of industry immediately concerned. , Mr. Fraser said the new Department would not be an overriding one at all. Its purpose was to think out matters, to examine statistics and plans, and in other ways to ensure industrial expansion. An important feature of the proposals was that the town planner had been transferred from the Department of Internal Affairs to the Organisation for National Development. This would enable him—probably in conjunction with regional committees and regional planning officers —to plan for the location of industry throughout the country, which was very desirable, particularly for the good ol the young people, who should, as far as possible, be provided with employment which did not require them ,to leave their homes. The availability of power for light industry made of power for light industry made such development possible. The vote was carried. MINISTER AND MANPOWER

WELLINGTON, September 21. Speaking in the House to a vote of £354,386 for the National Service Department, Mr Gerard (Nat., MidCanterbury) said the Department was important in that it had almost complete power to interfere with the lives of all people of the country. It was a wrong thing to have the Minister of such a department in another place where he could not be called to account. He did not criticise the Minister personally. It was the principle that he considered wrong. _ Mr Fraser said he would remind the Member for Mid-Canterbury of the Reasons for the appointment of Mr McLagan, who was appointed as part of the war administration, and had adhered to his position when members of the Opposition, appointed at the same time, did not. If there were any charge made against the administration of the Department it should be addressed to him, as he was responsible for Mr McLagan continuing in office. It had been suggested that he should have asked Mr McLagan to go to the country—to go through an unnecessary pantomime. Mr Gerard: Do you call going to the country an unnecessary pantomime? Mr Fraser: Yes—in this case. Jo raise the question as to whether or not, Mr McLagan represented an electyvpia or nnf was irrelevcnt. Mr Fraser said he had opposed MiMasters holding the portfolio of Education in the Upper House, but he had never objected to Sir Francis Bell being Attorney-General and Minister of Justice; and no. one with a proper sense of proportion would have done so. Mr McLagan had been appointed during wartime, when circumstances were exceptional, and he had done a very good job. Mr Gerard moved that the vote be reduced by £5 as an indication that the House had no confidence in the arrangement which permitted the Minister-in-Charge of National Service to be a member of another place. Mr Fraser said that there was a case for one chamber legislature., such as was functioning satisfactorily in Queensland, and that could be dis-, cussed at a later date, if desired. He himself approached the matter with a very open mind. He thought that members of the House, who were the elected representatives of the people, were the best judges of whether or not there was need for a constitutional change.

Mr Gerard’s amendment was rejected on the voices. Mr Fraser said that manpower direction would not continue any longer than was necessary, but during the war it was essential to the life of the country. Few liked being directed, but the sacrifices of those directed were small when compared with the sacrifices of men overseas.

In reply to a question, Mr Fraser said there were about 600 military defaulters in camps. Twenty-five had escaped, and were Still at large. There were also, he said, approximately 600 conscientious objectors, who were subject to direction.