SOLDIERS’ VOTES

Grey River Argus, 5 July 1944, Page 4

SOLDIERS’ VOTES

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY. PUBLICITY QUESTION. P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, July 4. The Acting-Prime Minister, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, referred to-day to a complaint yesterday voiced by Mr. S. G. Holland after the Nationalists Parliamentaiw Party caucus. Mr. Sullivan said: “The decision to set up a Select Committee of the House of Representatives to inquire into the organisation and methods employed for the recording and dealing with the votes for servicemen in the General Election wa's the responsibility of Parliament.” Mr. Holland, should have registered his protest at the time, if he desired an open inquiry. Under the rules of the House, the press may not be admitted to the proceedings of Select Committees, unless the House expressly orders it. This authority for a Select Committee was not sought by Mr. Hojlann when he had the onportun ty in the House. Mr. Holland should be aware of these facts, and I am surprised that he should misrepresent the position. by alleging that it was a Government decision to hold this inquiry in private. , , Mr. Sullivan said that he assumed that both the report and the whole of the evidence would be laid on the table of the House of Representatives.