PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1940, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

(Per Press Association —Copyright)

WELLINGTON, Dec, 5

Some comment on criticism of New Zealand’s war effort was occasioned when, the House met at 3.30 to-day l y a question which Mr 15. P. Meachen (Govt., Marlborough) addressed to the Prime Minister. He gave notice to ask Rt. lion. Mr Fraser: If his attention has been drawn to the report of a speech of Mr F. W. Doidge (Nat., Tauranga) to the ©fleet that New Zealand’s war effort was negligible, and that we had sent only a •mere handful of men overseas. In view ol: the far-reaching effects of such statements on New Zealand’s war effort, and on the British public, he (Mr Meachen) asked the Prime Minister if lie would, in conjunction with the Leader of the Opposition, take suitable steps to curb “the misleading, extravagant, incorrect, and often irresponsible statements which had been appearing.” Mr S. G. Holland (Opposition Leader) protested to the Speaker against the question being tabled. It was giving Mr Doidge no right of reply. It would not make for unity in the war effort. The Speaker said he could only be concerned; with the point of wheJioi the question complied with the rules of the House, and he did give the matter serious consideration before he passed the notice of the question. Rt. Hon. Mr Fraser said that, if possible, he would try to meet the wishes of the House. If Mr Doidge felt that he should have an opportunity of expressing his opinion, an .occasion might be found. In an urgent question to the Minister of National Service (Hon. R. Semple), Mr G. -I, Cullen (Govt.. Hawke’s Bay) asked if the Minister . would review the National .Emergency Regulations with a view’ to ensuring that persons called up in any ballot were notified where appeals had been lodged against, or for, the postponement of their service by anyone other than the reservist himself. The Minister of National Service, Mr Semple, in reply, said that all appeals received by the Man Bower 'Committees ■ were acknowledged as soon as they were received. If a man appealed, himself on the grounds of public interest,; a copy of -the acknowlt dgmont -was also sent to his ■employer,. In all eases where an appeal was lodged by some other person. such as'’an employer, parent, etc., a copy of the acknowledgment oy the appeal was sent to the man in respect of: whom the appeal wash lodged. Similar procedure was adopted in connection with appeals forwarded to the Director of National Service for men called up for overseas service. Mr AY. P. Endean (Nat.. Remuera), in an urgent question to the Minister of Finance, Hon. AY. Nash, asked if he would grant permission for Hipiids and relatives and other persons in New Zealand to send to each membei of the Expeditionary Force abroad ..five pounds for Christmas. Air Nash expressed regret that .1 nothing could be done in- the m antime. but he promised to give further consideration to the question, and, if the essential sums were available, lie ; would recommend that some alteration be* made at a later date.

RURAL HOUSING

WELLINGTON, Dec. 5

In reply to an urgent question by Mr J. N. Massey (Nat.. Franklin) Mr Armstrong stated in the House today that the Government had underconsideration the question of extending the period during which the ten per cent subsidy allowed by the Government for the erection of dwellings under the Rural Housing Act could be granted beyond the orginal-ly-stated date of -December 31 next. The Alinister said that, although it had not been decided that there should be any definite extension of the . date, local bodies had been advised that any applications approved by them before December 31 would be eligible fur subsidy, provided the borrower proceeded with his building programme within a reasonable time in the New Year.

QUESTION OF EXEMPTION

AYELLINGTON. Dec. 5

Hon. R. Semple (Minister of National Service) to-day made a- statement clarifying two popular misunderstandings regarding the position ot married men and widowers in the General Reserve.

He said it appeared to be generally known that men married on or after Allay I, 1940, wore deemed unmarried for the purposes of the regulations so long as they have no children, bm many reservists were not clear on what happens 011 the birth ol a child of such marriages. “A man drawn in the ballot was deemed transferred to the armed forces on the day following publication of bis name in the Gazette, therefore if he were properly gazetted as a first division reservist- the subsequent birth of a child would not divest him of liability for service, which be bad already incurred. In other words, if he is childless on the day of the Gazette notice, then he is a member of the armed forces, and will not be discharged solely on account of the birth of a child. Tf. however. be was first drawn in the Territorial ballot, and a child was afterwards born, lie will bo excluded from am- subsequent first division overseas ballot.”

Mr Semple explained that contrary to what is sometimes believed,, widowers were not transferred from; the Second to the First Division of the Reserve on the aattaimnent of a certain age by his child or youngest; child. It followed that a widower with a child of any ago was in the Second Division.

AIEDICAL PROPOSALS

WELLINGTON, Dec. 5

The completely-voluotary nature of the provisions for the contracts between patient's and- doctors under the Social Security Act was stressed in the House to-day by the Minister ot: Finance, Hon. AV. Nash, in moving the second reading of the Finance* Bill (No. 4), which contains an amendment to the Social Security Act. If a- doctor who was approached by a patient refused to agree to a contract, Mr Nash said, nothing could be done about it. The purpose of the* amendment to the Bill, said Air Nash, was to allow any person to contract with any doctor to attend himself and his family, and the State -would- pay the doctor the tees incurred. It meant that the individuil could go to his doctor and say 1 e wanted to come under the provisions >1 the Social Seem tty Act. Mr J. A. Lee: If the doctor says no ?

Mr Nash: Then nothing can be done about it., He. has got to find a doco .1 who agrees. Air Nash continued that there was also a provision whereby contracts could be made between groups of. individuals and a doctor.

After Mr Nash had given a brief outline of other provisions in the Bill, the debate was adjourned unfit to-morrow 7 morning.

SECRET SESSION

AA'ELiiiNGTON, Dec. 5. AVhen the House resumed at 7.31> this evening, it immediately went into secret session for the remained! of the evening. AV ELLINGTON, Dec. 6. AYlie the secret session ended at 12,50 this morning, the following official statement was issued by the Speaker ; 1 ‘The Prime Alinister reviewed developments in the international field since last secert session. The present position in the various theatres of war was. also dealt with. He indicated progress made in the provision of munitions and supply , generally. ■•Problems •• of local defence and steps taken to meet, the requirements of the situation were outlined by Inin. ;■ Twenty-one other speakers took ’part in the debate.

TO-DAY’S SITTING;

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Dec. 6.

Persons avoiding conscription by the simple means of not appearing for medical examination, will be compelled to face up to their obligations, according to an announcement made by the Prime Al inister, when the House met at 1,0.30 to-day.

The question was raised by Air Broadfoot, who asked what steps the Government proposed to take to ensure, such men did not avoid their .obligations. h ’ < \ Urgency was accorded the passing 'of the Finance Bill No. 4. Mr Holland said he did not think there would be much opposition to the bill, but referring to the Social Security provisions, lie suggested the Government should aim at giving all hospital treatment free, and lie pointed out that if the doctors remaining behind were allowed to build panels they would have the choice of patients, and when those on service returned, they might find no practice left to them. Under the circumstances, the Government should consider holding the scheme over until after the war. The Alinister of Health, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, said the Leader of the Opposition had contended that the Government was trying to cause a split in the B.M.A. by the introduction of of the present scheme, but he could assure the House, the Government had been working to prevent that very thing. .He also contended that the medical profession as a whole, would be materially better off under the scheme. He said the Government would issue to every citizen certificates which would he available at post offices and social security offices, and an individual had to find a doctor himself. If the doctor agreed to accept him, he signed the certificate which was then sent to the Social Security Department. That gave the citizen, his wife, and family the right to free medical, attention. The doctor had the same rights of choice as the patient. That would he done under the regulations.

The Government- had in mind what was a reasonable fee which it was proposed to pay for every person, for whom a doctor was responsible. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 1 p.m.