PARLIAMENT HOUSE TAKES URGENCY TO PASS ESTIMATES

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 September 1946, Page 2

PARLIAMENT HOUSE TAKES URGENCY TO PASS ESTIMATES

Voting by Troops in- Japan Satisfactory AssurancesSought (P.A:) WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. Urgency was taken for the passing of several classes of estimates when the House of Representatives resumed to-day. x . Mr M. H. Oram (Oppn., Manawatu) referred to the conduct of the coming election as affecting the J Force. He hoped that mistakes made in the last election would be avoided. He hoped the propaganda of both parties would be distributed in good time before voting took place. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, replying, said that it was now just simply a matter of making the best arrangements to get propaganda of the respective parties transported and distributed, and in all probability, an equivalent amount of space in aircraft would be available to both parties. .. Mr K. Holyoake (Oppn., Otaki): This is really all a delightfully vague way the Prime Minister is putting this. Mr Fraser said that the only point was to get propaganda to Japan. The only limitation was in the weight of the material, and it was a question of what the planes could carry. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, said he was not satisfied with the Prime Minister’s reply. There was a duty on the Government to see that material sent to Japan was distributed. Surely some arrangement could be made between the parties. He suggested that head offices of both parties meet, and come to a satisfactory understanding. The Opposition had complete confidence in Major Pollock, who was going to Japan to conduct the election, The Opposition did not want a repetition of circumstances which arose in the last election. Mr Fraser said he had alreadygiven instructions to the Electoral Department to interview the heads of the two political parties, and to work out a scheme satisfactory to both. * Mr Holland: There is not much time left. When do the troops start voting? Mr Fraser: A fortnight before the election here. Mr F. Langstone (Govt., Waimarino): It won’t be as widespread as it was last time. Mr Fraser: Much simpler.

The Police Force Mr W. A. Bodkin (Oppn., Central Otago), speaking on the police vote, said there was no more efficient police force in the world than New Zealand’s. He then asked if the New Zealand police force was up to strength. He asked whether full facilities to rejoin the force were being given to officers who insisted on leaving during the war to join the armed forces. Mr Fraser, supporting praise of the police force, which had been voiced by Mr Bodkin and others, said that if there had been any doubt about the efficiency of the police, it had been quickly dispelled by the way in which the force had coped with the lawlessness recently experienced in New Zealand. Mr Fraser said that a friendly view had been taken of the action of young men who left the, police force to join the armed iorces. Nearly all of them had been reinstated. The police force was still about 100 below strength, but recruits were now coming forward. , Mr E. L. Cullen (Govt., Hawke s Bay) suggested that, as the police force was below strength to the extent of 100 members, recruits be d r awn from the Maori race. Mr C. G. Harker (Oppn., Waipawa) said there were widespread cases of unlawful possession of firearms in the country. He suggested there was a link between that and the number of murders committed. He thought that the police should do less work for, other departments, and concentrate on firearms offences. I Mr Nash, replying on behalf of the I Prime Minister, said that pakeha and I Maori appointments to the police force were treated equally, accoi cling to qualifications.

Rights of Cook Islanders The question of Cook .Islands representation in the House was easy to determine, said the Prime Minister, when the vote for the Department of Island Territories came up m the estimates. He said that a Joint Island Council had been discussed previously, and legislation, which was now almost drafted, would be submitted to the House for its deliberation. Mr R. M. Algie (Oppn., Remuera) said he agreed that it was a little too early to give direct representation to the Cook Islands in the House at present. It was a question of whether the Islanders were ready for the suffrage yet. He asked: “What preparations are being given the Islanders for ultimate franchise, and to train them for ultimate representation in the House?” Mr A. G. Osborne (Govt.) said that the policy of educating the Islanders in New Zealand and training them to accept responsibilities in their own land would prove of great benefit in the future. There had been a progressive increase in the subsidies, mainly because of the interest which the Government had shown in health and education in the Islands, and if New Zealand was to carry out her responsibilities in the Islands, the taxpayer must be prepared to pay more. Mr Osborne said that the Government had not been unmindful of the need for adequate shipping to lift the produce from the Islands, where citrus nurseries were flourishing. He estimated that, it would require about five years before an adequate supply of fruit could be to New Zealand. The House devoted some time to the vote for Native Land Settlement, members discussing various aspects of Maori land settlement operations. The vote was still under discussion when the House rose at 10.30 until 2.30 to-morrow. Eight classes of estimates were passed during the day. They were:— Electoral Department, £148,853; Prime Minister’s Department, £146,729; External Affairs, £431,287; Public Service Commissioner’s Office, £37,510; Department of Island Territories, £445,200; Audit Department, £ 106,968; Police Department, £1,042,458; Native Department, £446,884.

NEW CLERK OF THE HOUSE APPOINTED Wellington, September . 17. The appointment of Mr. H. N. Dollimore as clerk of the House of Representatives, in succession to Mr. G. F.. Bothamley, was announced to-day by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser). Mr. Dollimore, who is at present clerk assistant, received his primary and secondary education at Timaru and Pleasant Point, and his parents, Mb. and Mrs.jE. Dollimore, live at No. 7 Regent street, Sydenham. Mr. Dollimore graduated LLI.B. from Victoria University College in 1935, and was admitted as a barrister earlier this month. He joined the Stamp Duties Department as a cadet in 1921, but resigned in 1922. In 1923 he joined the Railways Department in Christchurch and was later transferred to head office, Wellington, where he filled subsequently the position of secretary to the Railway Board of Appeal. He resigned in 1927 to take up a private appointment. In 1928 he rejoined the Public Service, entering the office of the Public Service Commissioner, from which he was transferred in 1929 to the Legislative Department. In 1933 he was promoted to the position of second clerk’ assistant and reader. In 1936, and from 1940 to 1945, he filled the position of clerk assistant in an acting capacity. He was confirmed in the position in June last year. Mr. Dollimore took a major part in the compilation in 1937 of the latest volume of the “Speakers’ Rulings.” He will take up his new appointment on November 1. work ofWormation SECTION QUESTIONED. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. Discussing the information section of the Prime Minister’s Department m the House- of Representatives yesterday, Mr. J. T. Watts (Opposition, Riccarton) sought an explanation of the increases in the staff. What was the section doing, and how many more pamphlets was it preparing? Mr. W. S. Goosman (Opposition, Waikato) asked by what right did the Government pay the salaries of the information section from the Consolidated Fund when it provided debating material for one party. Mr. C. M. Bowden (Opposition, Wellington West-) asked to whom was the information prepared by the section available? He considered the organisation was an information service for Government propaganda. The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) said the origin of the section went back many years. Given another three years in office, the Government would' have a worth-while information section. It was responsible for the compilation of a great amount of information which was sent out generally, and overseas, and its services so far as statistics were concerned were available .to all members of the Hbuse. ADMISSION OFTOLES TO NEW ZEALAND (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. In the House of Representatives today, Mr. S. W. Smith (Opposition, Bay of Islands) gave notice to ask the Minister of Customs his attitude to the admission to New Zealand of approved Poles who had served in the Royal Air Force and other British units, and who now wished to assume British citizenship. Mr. Smith said a Polish flying officer, married to an English girl, had been refused a permit by the Customs Department to enter the Dominion, although employment and a home had been'guaranteed.

REPORT OF THE LICENSING COMMISSION (PA.) WELLIGTON, Sept. 17. An indication that the report of the Licensing Commission would not be printed before the end of the present session Was given by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) during a discussion in the House of Representatives yesterday on the printing of departmental reports. Mr. Fraser said ' the Government Printing Office was so taxed, and the pressure of printing work in connection with the election was so great, thel’e was no hope of the Licensing Commission’s report being printed before the session ended.