PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 December 1944, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

WELLINGTON, Dec-. 15

A brief sitting from noon to 12.15, gave members on both sides of the House of Representatives opportunity to ask several urgent questions before the House adjourned until this afternoon, when the session will Conclude.

Mr. Connolly asked Mr. Fraser, as Minister in charge of the Electoral Department, whether his attention had been drawn to an editorial in the “Dominion” on December 12, containing “serious errors and distortions of fact concerning the despatch of instructions to the special returning officers in connection with the servicemen’s poll in the general election.” Mr. Connolly asked Mr. Fraser if he would state whether consideration would be given to the question of making it obligatory for the Press to publish corrections for errors of fact. Mr. Fraser said that consideration must be given to the obligations of the Press since it should recognise that unrestricted freedom to publish errors of fact at all times carried responsibility to publish corrections, but particularly when these had been pointed out as has been done in this case.

Mr.‘MacDonald asked whether the Attorney-General would state if it was the practice to grant leave to military defaulters in detention camps, and if so on what grounds? Mr. Jones, replying on behalf of Mr. Mason, said the War Cabinet recently considered the question of granting short leave parole to inmates of exemplary conduct who had been performing exceptionally good work, and decided to grant such men leave not exceeding two days per quarter, as the system was conducive to improved camp discipline. Mr. Jones added that hitherto leave had been granted only in circumstances of extreme urgency as for example for medical treatment not otherwise available. . “More spoon-feeding” for the kindergarten,” said Mr. Doidge.