DUAL PURPOSE PLAN

Grey River Argus, 29 April 1942, Page 4

DUAL PURPOSE PLAN

Training and Work Relays [Per Press Association..} P.A. WELLINGTON, April 28. The House to-day resumed at its current session, alter a recess c a month. T The Member for Westland (Mr J. O’Brien), gave notice to ask the Minister of Defence a question designed to give fit men the opportunity bot.i of military training and a turn in essential industry. The question was'as follows: —“Whether the Mi - ister of Defence will periodically relieve detachments of men in the .essential industries with an equal number of men who have already completed their military training: ana repeat this process, un H, ■ man of military age in this pomniion has been trained to defend Ne >v Zealand ?” .. „ M/r „ In a note to the question, M O’Brien stated:—“Large numbers of men, from essential industries,- hav been trained; are in camp; or are serving with the forces; and it wotua be a welcome change for them to return to industry for a while. : On -ne other hand, the work in the essential industries is sometimes monotonous, and those employed therein would enjoy a month in camp. -Some army exoerts have agreed that very valuable “ military training can be given in one month.” CONSCRIPTION QUESTION.

In. a question to the Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Use (Grey Lynn), raised the matter of the conscription oi man and women power in the _ Dominion. He suggested that the M.nister of Manpower might make a statement on the position, and might give the House an opportunity for a day’s debate thereon. Rt. Hon. Mr Fraser, in reply, said that he did not know if a full day could be set aside for a debate on the matter, but ample opportunity wou.d be given for discussion of the matter. He added that a statement would be made by the Minister. INCREASE OF PENSIONS AND PAY. Mr Lee also asked whether the Government intended taking steps to increase soldiers’ wages, allowances and pensions, and also to increase civil allowances and pensions by 10 per cent., the amount of the last two Arbitration Court awards. He said no increase in pensions or soldiers’ wages was made on either occasion. SOLDIERS’ WIVES. The statement was made by Mr H. E. Combs (Govt., Wellington Suburbs), in the notice of a question to the Minister of Health that recently, a Christchurch woman, wife of a soldier in camp, had entered a maternity hospital in (Wellington. She had been dismayed to find, on leaving, that she had a bill of nearly twenty pounds to .pay over and above the Social Security payment. Mr Combs asked if tbi? Minister wouiQ consider the advisability of. requiring the proprietors of maternity homes to hand each prospective patient a card, setting out the fees that they would be required to pay over and above the allowances provided by the Social Security Act.