MILITARY DEFAULTERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 December 1944, Page 8

MILITARY DEFAULTERS

PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY

I WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. In an urgent question in the House of Representatives to-day, Mr. Oram (Opposition, Waitomo). asked the .Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) to give the House before Parliament rose a clear statement of the Government’s policy towards military defaulters, both now and in the future. Mr. Oram said all members of the Opposition had received many resolutions passed by Returned "Services’ Association brandies, and in the absence of such a statement were unable to reply. Mr. Fraser, in his answer, said the Government’s policy regarding military defaulters was contained in the National Service Emergency Regulations, .1940. The Minister responsible for the administration was the Minister of Justice, acting under the direction of the War Cabinet. Mr. Fraser said the regulations had been administered fairly and equitably. It must be agreed that, although subjected io the penalties provided which they voluntarily incurred) and to the disadvantages of internment and prison if they persisted in defiance and disobedience, defaulters were not subjected io the risks of sickness, wounds ami death which were the common experience of our sailors, soldiers, and airmen who were lighting for us: nor wore they subject to the great hardships and frequent cruelties of enemy prison camps to which our moil who became prisoners of war were condemned. “Al the Saule lime it is necessary 1 that the regulations should be reviewed periodically, mid parallel re- < glllatiofls ill Britain and Ollier ttiiii- 1 cd Nations closely studied," added : Mr. I''rascr. “For instance, ilu- law provides for exemption from military i training of proved conscientious ob- < jeclors. It is claimed that a num- c ber of men in detention camps are j not defaulters, but conscientious ob- ( jcctors whose cases ought to be re- j heard. In Britain there is an. appeal. £ court for the purpose of rehearing such cases. The question whether there should be some kind of review- ;■

ing authority for any -who claim to be unjustly imprisoned is obviously a question Cor the War Cabinet to consider. The question of more effective and economic use of the labour power of defaulters in the interests of the Dominion is another question which is being examined. I do not think consideration of the Question of disfranchisement of de- ; faulters is an urgent matter. With the end of the war perhaps some two, even three, years ahead, there are clearly much more urgent matters of importance to the. war effort which demand immediate and continuous attention.” t “That won’t satisfy the Returned Services’ Association,” interjected Mr Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga) as Mr Fraser resumed his seat. Mr. Fraser: I can’t help that.