PARLIAMENT Minister Promises Protection To Volunteer Firemen

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 October 1947, Page 6

PARLIAMENT Minister Promises Protection To Volunteer Firemen

WELLINGTON, October 10. Whether members of volunteer fire brigades should be forced to become members of the Fite Brigadesmen’s Union , was hotly debated in the House of Representatives today, and the debate was stopped only when the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) gave ah assurance that volunteer firemen would be protected—by legislation if necessary. On that assurance, Mr C. G. E.' Hatker (Opposition, Hawke’s Bay) withdrew a motion suggesting a reduction of the vote for internal Affairs as a protest against the attempt to make volunteers members of the union. . .

The Minister of Finance (Mr W. Nash) said he would vote against reduction of the vote for a department on any occasion, and particularly on the present one, but he questioned if there was any justification for comoelling volunteer firemen to join the union. Many Of them were already in unions. He said he would guarantee to support any action ensuring that they should not be required to join the Firemen’s Union. If they were interfering with the effort of other persons who were try’"" to better union conditions it would be a different matter, but they were not. Volunteer firemen were a magnificent section of the communitv, and there should be no compulsion on them. Mr Parry said it was wrong for unions to attempt to compel volunteers who performed their duties as a hobby and for the benefit of the community to join the union when they were not interfering with union conditions.

Mr W. Sullivan (Opposition, Bay of Plenty): You should have made a statement months ago, Mr Parry: Both organisations concerned know where I stand on the matter. Replying to further discussion, Mr Parry said the matter would be contested in a court action at Hastings. FIVE OPPOSITION MEMBERS VOTE WITH GOVERNMENT WELLINGTON, October 10. Five Opposition members voted with the Government in a snap division called to .decide the cost of sending a delegation to the UNESCO meeting at Mexico City. The Government won the division by 42 votes to 32. The Opposition members voting with the Government were Messrs D. M. Rae (Parnell), W. H. Fortune (Eden), J. R. Hanan (Invercargill), C. G. E. Harker (Hawke’s Bay), and J. R. Marshall (Mount Victoria). A feature of the debate was the frequent reference to the choice of a son of the Minister of Finance (Mr

W. Nash) as a delegate, but the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) said Mr Nash, jun., was sent to save money, as he was already stationed in Washington, and was amply qualified to represent New Zealand. Son of Mr Nash Mr W. A. Sheat (Opposition, Patea), said he had been informed that arrangements were well in hand for sending another touring party to the conference, and that it was to comprise the Director of Education (Dr C. E. Beeby), a Miss McPhee, a man named Forsyth, and a man named Nash, who he believed was a relative of the Minister of Finance. He understood that arrangements lad been made for the party to tour .;he United States by car on their way to Mexico City, and questioned the necessity of that expenditure. The Prime Minister had indicated during discussion on the external affairs vote that overseas conferences were overdone, and here was an opportunity to economise. The sending of a delegation was contemplated, and as far as carriding was concerned, the member for Patea seemed to know more about that than he did, said the Minister of Education (Mr H. G. R. Mason). The Minister agreed that rhe usefulness of a number of overseas conferences would bear some examination. New Zealand, decided to join UNESCO because it was ah institution 'to assist nations in the sphere of education and culture, and to enable them to get to know each other and spread, goodwill. If the delegation was to be sent it should comprise personnel who could make a useful and practical contribution. Dollar Expenditure

Mr R. G. Gerard (Opposition, Ashburton) said that between 30,000 and 35,000 dollars would be involved in sending the delegation. Had Mr Nash the scientific attainments, or was he following in his father’s footsteps and seeing the world at the cost of the taxpayer? . Mr Mason said the cost of the delegation' would be, as near as possible, about' £2500, which would not convert into 35,000 dollars.

The division was taken on an amendment moved by Mr V/. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago) that the vote of £6OOO to send the delegation to Mexico City be reduced by £lO, as an indication to the Government that the sending of the delegation should be reviewed, and that even if it was necessary that the delegation should go, the size should be less than four persons. Out of its small reserves New Zealand could not oven find dollars for more important purposes, he said, and it would have to ask hard-pressed Britain to find 10.000 dollars.