PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 6 December 1940, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED AVOIDANCE OF CONSCRIPTION [From Our Own Parliamentary Reporter] WELLINGTON, This Day. 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 by the Prime Minister. When the House met at 10.30 o’clock this morning the question was raised by Mr W. J. Broadfoot, who asked Mr Fraser what steps the Government proposed to take to ensure that such men did not avoid their obligations. Mr Fraser in reply said that Mr had done a service in drawing attention to the matter and he and members o f the House could rest assured that such a condition, if it existed, would not be allowed to go on. Those men who had not appeared for medical examination would be compelled to appear. After all compulsion was compulsion. Mr J. O’Brien in notice of a question to the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, asked if he would take into consideration the keeping in existence ol the Public Works camp at Paringa. on the Main South road, Westland. SHORTAGE ACCENTUATED A request for licenses for the importation of a sufficient quantity of woollen hose from Britain to meet requirements for next winter was made by Mr Broadf°' A ’ n an urgent question to the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Nash. Mr Broadfoot also asked if the Minister would favourably consider allowing cotton hose to come in from Great Brita n to meet the needs of workers In factories, shops and on farms. He added that the demand for these lower-pr-ced cotton and woollen hose was ven r great Mr Nash in reply indicated that questions asked in the House concerning supplies of different commodities invariably had the effect of accentuating any shortage. He thought that members shojld remain silent on these matte - s and suggested that the proper procedure would be for them to go to the Minister concerned and find out the facts Mr Nash added that as he had only recently received the question It had been impossible for hirft in time to get the facts in regard to the position. He would be glad, however, to go into the question of licenses and make a statement setting out the position. ENEMY ALIEN COMMISSIONERS An intimation that there was a general desire on the part of the Justice Department not to appoint men as enemy alien commissioners who were strong partisans in party politics was given by the Prime Minister answering an urgent question by Mr Broadfoot. He added, however, that there was no general discrimination in this respect Mr Broadfoot drew his attention to a Wanganui case where it had been alleged that discrimination had been shown against a local solicitor because of his association with the National Party organisation.