DEBATE PENDING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21581, 7 December 1944, Page 6

DEBATE PENDING

POLITICAL ISSUE? “NOT UNANIMOUS” COMMITTEE’S FINDINGS fP.R.) WELLINGTON, Doc. 7. A full opportunity of discussing the servicemen's voting report was promised by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. P. Fraser. He contended that it was obvious from what the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, had said that it was not going to toe treated in a judicial way. “If the Opposition cares to treat it as a party matter all I can say is ‘All right, come on.’ ” This remark was greeted with laughter from the Opposition benches, one Opposition member saying: “St. George and the Dragon.” Air. Fraser said it would be necessary for the members to have an opportunity of studying tiro evidence and lire report, because it was too important a matter for party partisanship. As the integrity and honour of public men and officers of the forces were involved, these were not matters that' could be adjusted or adjudicated upon in a whirlwind of norty prejudice. Ko thought it would bo possible to complete tire business on the order paper bv Friday afternoon, and he would like to have the view of the member's as to whether they should meet again on Monday or Tuesday to take the discussion oil the report. Mr. Holland said be had had a discussion with the Prime Minister regarding Pic remaining business. He would like to say at the outset in 'ward to the servicemen's voting ronorf that, although the chairman <>f the Select Committee. Mr. Osborne had been careful to say that it was not n unanimous report, the chairman would have been move correct if lie had said it was a report of the Labour members of the committee. On the committee there were six Government members and four from the Opposition, which was quite proper. The report of the eomtfiltf.ee reore* Rented the view- of the six. and ho had been asked, to stale by fho Opposition members that they dirt not agree wifh it. . . Mr. Holland added that it would'be wrong if any impression went, abroad that Ihe report was merely not conouiTed in hv oiio or two members of the committee. Ho repealed that the four Opposition members had ask-'d him to state that they .disagreed'with the majority of the findings of the ecminitlee Mr. Osborne: Haven’t they got to' l "ues themselves? The Attnrnev-Gcnei'cd the Hon, rr. O. f Masm: Won't we hear from the members themselves? Air. Holland (emphatically): You I bet you will. J’