PARLIAMENT RESUMES

Grey River Argus, 18 March 1942, Page 4

PARLIAMENT RESUMES

DEBATE ON DEFENCE Question of Publicity PA WELLINGTON, March 17. 'The session of Parliament was resumed at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Two new members, Mr H. J. D. Adand (who replaces the late T. D. Burnett in. Temuka electorate), and Mr A. b. Sutherland (who was elected in place of the late Colonel Allen lor Hauraki), were sworn in by the Speaker, Mr Barnard. . . Discussing the forthcoming business of the,House, Mr Fraser sought guidance on the question ol whether an open debate on war developments snould take place before or after the secret silting. He said that there was a lot of important information, that would be of great oenclit to members in any discussion, but that could- only be given to them m secret session. The Leader of the Opposition, Mi' S. G. Holland,'said that they should, first, hear the inner story before they took part in a public debate, and he expressed the hope that this secret session would not be unduly extended. Mr Fraser said he also would like the House to consider the question of whether an open debate should be broadcast.

Mr F. W. Doidge (Nat., Taurangai: If the debate is not broadcast, will full newspaper publicity be possible. Mr Fraser: "The question of full newspaper publicity will be dealt with in the ordinary way.” Mr Fraser stated that all ‘publication was under the Censor. It was a question for the Censor to decide what would be of advantage to the enemy. There vzould be no curtailment of criticism chat. did. not provide information to the enemy. Hon W. E. Parry said he believed that the public should be told as much as it was possible for them to know'. If that were done, the atmosphere would be cleared. Mr J. A. Lee (Grey Lynn) said he was of opinion that there should be no secret session debate, but that it would be quite wrong to allow a debate on the defence of the country to be broadcast to their listening enemies. , Mr F. W. Schramm (Govt., Auckland East), said he believed that the House had spent too much time in secret session in the past. He believed that the people should be taken into the confidence of the Government.

Replying, Mr Fraser said that essential information regarding the extent of the danger and the provisions that had been made to meet it would be conveyed to members, but this information could not be given to the public. There had been no information withheld from the public of the Dominion that it could get with benefit to the war effort. He expressed the hope that, when the House met in the evening, it would do so, not as a chamber representing different parties and political interests, but as a national committee of the country in whom the trust of the people was reposed to take every possible step to safeguard the Dominion. The House rose at 3.20 until 7.30 P ’ ' WELLINGTON. March 17. The House was still in secret session at midnight. The session lasted until 12.8 a.m., when the House rose till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow. It is stil) in secret session.