DEFENCE FORCE CHANGES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 10 March 1943, Page 5

DEFENCE FORCE CHANGES

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE SITTING SHOULD FINISH ON FRIDAY (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, This Day. The Dominion’s manpower situation and certain changes in defence forces are to be discussed by members of the House of Representatives to-morrow. This was indicated by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, before the House adjourned last evening. He asked that the adjournment should be until 7.30 to-night so that the Cabinet and the War Cabinet might come to certain conclusions regarding the manpower situation.

The Address-in-Reply debate could finish to-night, and to-morrow morning, he suggested, would be a suitable time for members to meet chiefs of staff. After that meeting, the House could assemble and discuss the question off the air, for it was imperative that any manpower discussion, particularly if it involved any changes, should be off the air. The Prime Minister added that newspapers would be admitted, but it would mean a certain supervision of what should appear, although that would apply only regarding details that would be of assistance to the enemy. He wanted the discussion to be as free and full as possible.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, asked when the present sitting was likely to conclude, the Prime Minister replying that he thought they could manage by Friday night. It was desirable to put through t the Commercial Gardens Registration Bill, and there was also a small Bill providing for housing construction to come under Public Works, and for the appointment of a Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of Works, and the change of the name of Minister of Public Works to Minister of Works.

Two measures which he thought might be held over until May were a Bill conserving the rights of patentees during the war and a small tax measure which might caus* some controversy.