Ministers Answer Questions

Northern Advocate, 4 September 1941, Page 6

Ministers Answer Questions

[Per Press Association.—Copyright] WELLINGTON, This Day. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, consideration was given to written Ministerial replies to questions asked earlier during the session. Anonymous Letters Control An assurance that if it were found that the publication of anonymous letters in the columns of newspapers were interfering with the war effort, steps would be taken to protect individuals and State from unfair at tacks by such correspondents was given by the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr Nash), replying to a question by Mr E. P. Meachen (Govt., Marlborough). The original question stated that many anonymous letters now appearing tended to create sectional antagonism, thereby mititating against the unity necessary for a full war effort. Soldiers Replace Watersiders Explanation of a recent incident on the Wellington waterfront, when soldiers were called on to load 2500 kitbags on to a troopship, was given by the Minister of Labour (Mr Webb), replying to a question regarding the matter, by Mr F. W. Doidge (Oppn., Tauranga). The Minister said that on the day in question, heavy rain was falling and the watersiders were due to start loading kit-bags at 8 a.m. Because of the rain they returned to the wait-ing-room for shelter, but about 10 a.m., as rain was still falling', the military authorities decided to put soldiers' effects aboard with their own men, and watersiders were dismissed at 10.45 a.m. No payment was made to watersiders in excess of the “minimum period” provided for in terms of their* order. The Butler Incident

Another question relating to waterfront control was also dealt with by Mr Webb, who replied to a question by Mr. J. A. Lee (Dem. Lab., Grey Lynn), who asked for the reasons for the dismissal of the Wellington watersiders’ representative (Mr Butler) from the Waterfront Bureau office. The Minister said the bureau was operated under the supervision of the Waterfront Controller and the staff was appointed to perform work in connection with the engaging and transferring of labour and the equalisation of hours. Mr Butler had never been a member of that staff, nor did his appointment as . the watersiders’ representative give him any right either to interfere or take part in the work of the bureau office. Therefore, he could not be dismissed from a position he never filled. The Minister added, however, that a difference of opinion had 'arisen between a member of the bureau staff and Mr Butler, and it was deemed advisable to instruct Mr Butler not to enter the office of the bureau pending investigation of the complaints made. The matter had since been considered by the parties concerned and amisably adjusted. At Mercy of Governments Replying to a request by Mr J. O’Brien (Ggivt., Westland) that War pensions to both soldiers and their dependants be placed on a permanent basis, the Minister for Defence (Mr Jones) said pensions were already on as permanent a basis as Parliament could secure. “The nature of our Constitution, under which Parliament is from time to time elected by the people," said the Minister, “makes it impossible to secure permanence of payment in the event of the people electing Parliamentary representatives who are prepared to discontinue or diminish them.” Recall of Officers as Instructors Certain officers and non-commis-sioned officers of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force who have special instructional ability, said the Minister for Defence (Mr Jones), replying to a question by Mr J. A. Roy (Oppn., Clutha), who asked if the Government would bring back such instructors for work in Mobilisation and Territorial camps, would be employed as instructors in New Zealand camps. This policy would be followed in future to the extent that circumstances permitted.