Miners’ Service “To Be Decided By Parliament”

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1949, Page 3

Miners’ Service “To Be Decided By Parliament”

Replying to a questioner in . the Opera House, Greymouth, last night, the Prime Minister,' Mr P. Fraser, said he could not say whether _ 18 year-olds employed in the mines would be included in the compulsory military training scheme, if it is introduced ‘as the result of today’s referendum.

An assurance from the Prime Minister that, in the event of the referendum being carried, all 18-year-olds would be included in the scheme and that there would be no exemption for miners was sought by Mr J. Devine (Runanga). “I cannot say that at all,” replied Mr Fraser. “That is a matter for parliament and I am not going to say what Parliament will do when certain industries are being considered. I personally cannot say, but personally I stand for no exemptions.”

A voice: You just do what you arc told.

Change Of Policy Flourishing a number of war medals, Mr R. Marley started off to ask a question by announcing that he was not a Communist and that he fought for the medals which he displayed. He began by asking Mr Fraser why, in 1916, when the country was at war, he opposed conscription. (The rest of his remarks were drowned in a babble of sound from the audience). “That is a perfectly fair question,” replied the Prime Minister. “The M.P. for Grey at that time also opposed conscription as that was then the policy of the Labour Party. In the light of history I am not sure that it was the correct policy. However, it was the policy of the party and we stood by it. Today, a vote for . compulsory training is also the voice of Labour movement and we are just doing all we can to explain it to the people.” • Replying to another questioner, who asked if the Prime Minister had ever been to Russia, Mr Fraser replied in the negative and went on to say that he was not present to attack any country but only those in control. “We don’t distort history,” he added, “but we do know that the men who stood up and fought in Russia ended up in the grave. We know that they have no freedom there.” Mr Fraser caused a fairly general laugh when, in referring to economic conditions,in Russia he added “Families are looking for rooms in Moscow, not houses.” “The same here” cried a voice, but Mr Fraser retorted “Very few.”

Asked why thousands of pounds should be spent on the referendum, Mr Fraser replied that it was because the Government wanted to know the mind of the people and wanted to have the people’s backing for the training scheme. Question Of Franchise

“Why can’t the 18-year-olds have a vote on it?” asked Mrs R. Rawcliffe.

“Because not one will go away until he is 21 and he will then have a vote and/can voice his disapproval of what the Government is doing if he wants to then,” Mr Fraser said. “We also send 18-year-olds into unions without a vote and we also have compulsory education, to 15— and I hope it will soon be 16. “You have blamed the Communists for a lot of things. I am in complete agreement with you, but what are you going to do-about it?” asked another questioner. The Prime Minister: We are going to have this scheme in operation very quickly indeed —that is what we are going to do about it. Several other would-be questioners were on their feet, but lost their opportunity of speaking when the meeting was brought to a close by the passing of the vote of thanks to the speakers.