MINISTERS REPLIES TO QUESTIONERS

Northern Advocate, 19 July 1949, Page 2

MINISTERS REPLIES TO QUESTIONERS

QUESTIONS on the conscri] Minister of Lands and Rehabi conclusion of his address in the Asked in a written question whether it was democratic for a Government to use taxpayers’ money and Government authority 1o prejudice voters on a question being put before them by a referendum, Mr Skinner said, the taxpayers’ money was being used to pul both si civs of the question over the air. Another written question queried whether the future of 13-year-olds should be decided by a means in which they had no say. Mr Skinner replied that the future of 18-year-olds was being no more planned under this scheme than it had been in keeping them at school until they were 15 years old. AGAINST WAR Also asked if it was right for the Dominion to prepare for war without first repudiating its signature to the United Nations Charter in which it pledged itself to renounce war. Mr Skinner said the Dominion would not bo preparing for war but against war. Another questioner wanted lo know il the trainees would be paid and

where the necessary taxation • would come from. Mr Skinner said pay

rates would be the same as for the regular force and the taxpayer was the only source of revenue.

Would conscientious objectors: be allowed to appeal to appeal courts? anoLoor person asked. "Unequivocally yes. the Minister replied. Ihe opposition had not been given the opportunity, at the taxpayers’ expense, to stump the country in this campaign, the questioner stated.

The Communist-Party had made a request for funds, but Parliament had turned it down, the Minister answered.

A woman, who said she was opposed to the Communists as well as war. asked if. in the event of the Government pci'iiu; tor the hall, a genuine pacifist

ption .issue were addressed to the ilitation (Mr Skinner) at the Whangarei Town Hall last night. • had been invited to speak to the mcct- » big. t The Minister said lie hoped no such i eilorl had been made. He would not i have wanted to speak on the same - platform with someone who was opI posed to the scheme. RUSSIA ON WARPATH II the pacifists and the Communists 1 wanted to get together to oppose the ; issue that was their affair, but it would i not be fair to provide taxpayers’ money for the purpose. : “Where do you get the idea that ■ Russia is on the warpath?” another I questioner wanted to know. I The Minister said the questioner must be trusting if he believed that all the democratic nations were wrong after the attitude Russia had adopted > towards the United Nations, in Gert many and towards visitors to Russia. . The Russian people, the Minister believed. did not want war. but unfor- . Innately, they did not have the say m what their' nation should do. BOSWELL'S ACTIVITIES

Mr -I. P. Woods asked if information about Russia could not be obtained from the ex-member of Parliament for the Bay of Islands 'Mr Boswell' who had "been sent to Russia to get information tor us." Mr Skinner said Mr Boswell nad not, been sent to Russia for that purpose, but to represent the Dominion therein the same way that other nations

were represented. "It you had lived in Russia as long as the ex-member for thf Bay of Islands would you not know something of their methods'.'” Mr Woods asked. “Definitely yes," Mr Skinner replied. With four dissentients, a motion, proposed by Mr R. A. Rogers and seconded by Mr D. B. Haigh. wholeheartedly supporting the scheme for compulsory military training, was carried.