RELEASED DEFAULTERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1945, Page 3

RELEASED DEFAULTERS

MENTAL HOSPITAL DIRECTION WELLINGTON, July 25'. The direction of men released ,on parole from defaulters’ detention as attendants at mental hospitals was discussed in the House of Representatives to-day. Replying to an urgent question by Mr W, J. Broadfoot (Opposition, (Waitomo), the Minister of Finance (Mr Nash) said men who were being released on parole from defaulters' detention were being considered for employment as attendants in mental ! hospitals, arid if they were round suitable for this employment they were being directed accordingly. There were 92 vacancies for male attendants in mental hospitals, ana present employees were being called upon to work extremely long hours to make up the deficiencies. If men released on parole were not directed to the work, others would have to be so directed, as the National Service Department had the greatest difficulty m getting men to take such work. " Mr Broadfoot’s question suggested that men of the first furlough draft were still debarred from taking such work, and that mental hospital staffs objected to defaulters being sent to work with them. In reply to this part of the question, Mr Nash said four members of the first furlough draft had not yet been returned to their positions as attendants, but. the question of reemploying them was under consideration by the Government. Representatives of the institutions concerned had been consulted about defaulters, and while they said they would prefer not to have these men, thev'had agreed that there was justification lor their direction. An unqualified assurance was given that the men would only be employed until they could be replaced bv other men, and their appointment would in no way prejudice the rights or prospects of other staff members. Mr Nash added that it should be remembered that the men were only released on parole after they had satisfied a review authority that they had genuine conscientious objections, and work in hospitals was in keeping with their beliefs.