PARLIAMENT MEETS

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1943, Page 3

PARLIAMENT MEETS

N.Z.E.F. CONGRATULATED

Message From General Freyberg NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ASKED. P.A. PARLIAMENT BLDGS. May 19. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. The Prime Minister'. (Mr. Fraser) moved: “That this House of Representatives records its whole-hearted congratulations to the armies of the United Nations, whose brilliant victory) in Tunisia has brought the battle for North Africa to such a triumphant conclusion and expresses its sense of gratitude to the officers and men of the New Zealand fighting services, who by. their sacrifice and steadfast devotion to duty throughout long and arduous campaigns, and by their magnificent achievements, have brought fame and honour to themselves and established for their country the right to speak as a firm and active defender of freedom; and that this House again records its firm determination that New Zealand will continue to devote all its energies and all its resources towards the achievement of final victory, and records also its sense of solemn obligation to ensure that, with the conclusion of a' victorious peace, this Dominion will devote its full efforts towards assisting all people who have suffered for the sake of freedom.” This was seconded by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland), and carried. Mr. Fraser read this message from Freyberg: “From Tunis I send greetings on behalf of all ranks to our people in New Zealand We send special good wishes to our comrades who have gone home wounded or sick, and at this moment of victory we nay our tribute to those who have fallen in the battle during this long and hard desert campaign.”

RELEASE OF DOCTORS. The Minister of Health (Mr. INordmeyer), in reply to a question by Mrs. C. C. S. Stewart (Govt. Wgtn. West) said that he had taken up with the military authorities the question of releasing doctors over forty years of age for civil practice. Every elfort was being made to ensure' that while the reasonable needs of the Armed Forces were met, the claims of the civil population were not neglected. In a notice of question, Mr. W. Sullivan (National, Bay of Plenty) asked whether the attention of the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Barclay) had been drawn to a report that a conscientious objector was placed in employment on Ruakura State Farm. If this was so, would the Minister state if it was the policy of the Government to give such objectors sheltered State employment during the war period. Mrs. M. M. Dreaver (Govt. Waitemata) gave notice of intention to ask the Prime Minister if legislation would be brought down to prevent the buying and renovating of old houses for re-sale at inflated prices. She said that this practice was becoming increasingly common and the public, including servicemen. were being, exploited.

WAR INFORMATION OFFICE. Mr. W. J. Polson (National, Stratford) gave notice of intention to asi< the Prime Minister under what regulation, if any, was the Office of War Information, which was publishing party political propaganda over the air, set up. Mr. Polson also asked whether the expenses of this office were being paid from the War Expenses Account, and whether permanent Labour Party propagandists were receiving fees for contributing programmes. Pie pointed out that the Censorship and Publicity Emergency Regulations, provided only for a Director of Publicity. Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn) asked the Minister of Manpower (Mr. McLagan) if he would give instructions that young women should not be directed Ironi jobs where they wore able to maintain themselves into work at present existing in northern cities, where wages were dangerously low. A eood minimum subsistence standard should be sot as the prelude to such transfers.

FRUIT DANGER. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Barclay) issued a warning regaining the danger involved in eating apparently good fruit or ouier produce, which had been disposed of because of some fault—he was referring particularly to produce thrown iroin ships and washed ashore —in replying to a question by Mrs. Stewart, who mentioned a report that Wellington people had picked up and eaten oranges and lemons washed ashore. LATE MR. PAIKEA. The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) moved: “That this House record its high! sense of appreciation of die services of the late Mr. P. K. Paikea, and express sympathy with his' family.” ’This was seconded by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland) after several members had spoken to the motion it was carried. The House later adjourned as a mark of respect. Before the adjournment, Mr. Fraser, in reply to Mr. Holland, indicated that an External Affairs mil would be introduced during the session. Such a Bill, he said, would amalgamate- the Cook, and Samoan Islands under one Department.

SECRET SESSION. Mr. Fraser moved an adjournment until 7.30 p.m. to-morrow evening. He said that a secret session to discuss the war situation would be taken then, and might be continued on i-ri-day. Mr. Holland said there- was a feeling that the public was being “locked out.’!

Mr. Fraser replied that matters to be discussed in secret could not be made public, although some of it might be made public later. He added that the- Budget would be presented next Thursday, and that the House would .then adjourn for the week-end to enable the Opposition to study it before beginning the debate. The- House then adjourned.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, ■ May 19The Legislative Council passed a motion the same as that in the House of Representatives congratulating the Army on the North African victory. The Council also passed a motion of condolence with the relative? of the late Hon. P. K. Paikea. It them adjourned to June 2.