Holland, Skinner To Speak In Whangarei

Northern Advocate, 14 July 1949, Page 6

Holland, Skinner To Speak In Whangarei

The Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr C. F. Skinner) will speak in the Whangarei Town Hall on Monday evening in furtherance of the Government’s campaign in support of compulsory military training.

Previously it was believed that Mr Fraser was to speak at Whangarei. At a special meeting of the Whangarei Borough Council last night the town clerk (Mr L. O. Hall) said that he had been in telephonic communication with the Internal Affairs Department and the department bad stated that the RSA would be organising the meeting.

lie had also been informed, said Mr Hall, that the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland) would also be speaking in Whangarei later in the month. This meeting would be held in the Regent Theatre, as Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd., had placed all their theatres in New Zealand at the disposal of the Government for use by speakers supporting the campaign.

Broadcasting Policy To Be Announced

WELLINGTON, Thu. (Sp.). —An announcement on the Government’s policy concerning the broadcasting of arguments for and against compulsory military training will be made in the next few days.

The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) mentioned this in a letter to the New Zealand Peace and Anti-Conscription Federation today.

In applying for broadcasting facilities the federation requested a grant from public funds to enable it to present its case in equal fashion with those who supported conscription. The letter, which was signed by the secretary of the federation (Mr A. I. Keesing), stated that its membership included followers of the Labour Party, National Party and Communist Party.

The proposal for a grant was “utterly ridiculous and could not be entertained for a single moment,” said the Prime Minister in his reply. He added that the Government would use its resources to further its policy, believing that it had the approval of the vast majority of thinking people.

As Communists and fellow travellers were c oicuous in the improvised peace . 1 anti-conscription organisation, the making of a grant would amount to subsidising ■ the country’s enemies to assist them to keep New Zealand's defence forces inefficient.

S.A. Veterans' Support

TIMARU; Thu., (P.A.)—The Dominion executive of the South African War Veterans’ Association, at a meeting in Timaru last night, passed the following resolution: ‘‘That in confirmation of the resolution passed at the annual conference, all South African veterans be urged to give the utmost support at the coming referendum on compulsory military training.”