EXECUTIVE BODY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20262, 1 June 1940, Page 11

EXECUTIVE BODY

WAR COUNCIL’S POWERS GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION OPPOSITION CRITICISM (Parliamentary Reporter;) WELLINGTON, this day. When the House of Representatives met this morning, urgency was granted the passing of the Emergency Regulations Amendment Bill. Continuing his speech in the second reading debate on the bill, Mr. S. G. Holland (Nat., Christchurch North) stated that five months after the outbreak of war there were more men on public works than there had been a month before the war. The previous evening, said Mr. Holland, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, had said there would be no profiteering during this war. When would the Government apply this decision to watersiders and others who were being paid high rates of overtime for work which was vitally essential in the Dominion’s war effort He suggested to 'the Government that many men at present on public works should be transferred to more productive works. The Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan said that a large proportion of the men engaged on public works were bringing into production lands that hitherto had lain idle. Judging from the discussion which had so far taken place on the bill, he did not think the Opposition's members had seen in its true perspective the Government’s proposal to set up a war council. It was the Government’s intention that this council should have real executive power. There would be no humbug about it. It was the real intention of the Government that the council should be really an executive body with full authority for action as far as New Zealand’s war effort was concerned. Definite Lead Wanted The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Nat., ICaipara) said he agreed that the Minister of Supply and his colleagues had done their best, but what the people did want to know was what the Government had in its mind when asking for such'wide powers as those contained in the bill. What the country was waiting for, ho added, was a clear, definite lead and it was Parliament/s -duty to get busy and mobilise the country for a united war effort. Surely, he said, if members from both sides of the House were fighting side by side on the battlefield, it was the duty of the members who remained behind to get together and make a united effort. He did not agree with the proposal to form a war council because the Government could get the advice it required at anytime it chose, merely by asking for it. It would give the greatest satisfaction to all sections of the community if a national Government were formed. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, said that talking should be reduced to a minimum and work increased to a maximum. Discussing the position of public works, he said the Government was working to transfer men to productive works. The farmers were offered a subsidy on wages and over 4000 men were engaged in such work. Twenty-five machines had been taken off public works for land clearing. The Government was not going to steadydown on irrigation work, however, he said because irrigation meant increased production. He also was not prepared to sack good workers employed on public works until other work was found for them. Men Needed on Farms Mr. W. S. Goosman (Nat., Waikato), said the scheme for land development was a good one, but it was attracting men from ordinary farm work because of the bettor wages and conditions. The crying need was for men to help in the ordinary routine, work on farms. If the Government went about' the matter in the right way. he said, it could have the ungrudging compliance of the whole of the people. Mr. E. P. Meachen (Lab.. Marlborough), referring to the question of conscription, said there were a lot of people who had been asking for conscription, but personally he was one of those who considered conscription should not be passed before it was necessary. As long as we could fill our camps with men who entered them in the right spirit, the better it would be for all concerned. He considered there would be little difficulty filling the echelons with men of the right type. Mr. A. E. .Tull (Nat., Waipawa). suggested that the reason why the session was so long delayed was because the Government had to consult the Labour conference and not on account of the Government’s Inactivity. Though shipping was of outstanding importance, the Government’s policy in this connection was vacillating

The House adjourned at 1 p.m. until 2.30 p.m.