IN THE HOUSE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 1 December 1945, Page 3

IN THE HOUSE

URGENT QUESTION PRESENTED FORCE TO GO TO JAPAN RETURN OF 9th REINFORCEMENTS Wellington, Nov. 30. A feature of formal business in the House of Representatives to-day was the number of inquiries presented in j the form of urgent questions. Opposi- | tion members seeking Ministerial f answers without the delay of questions ■ being placed on the order paper. , The Minister of Defence, Mr F. j Jones, answering an urgent question . by Mr T. Clifton Webb (National, Kaipara) said the force that has been j organised to go to Japan consists prin- j cipally of single men of the 13th, 14th ] and 15th reinforcements who have had short overseas service. Owing to the necessity for the extension, reorganisation and training of the new force and also as a leave scheme was arranged specially for the purpose of occupying the time of the men with long overseas service while awaiting repatriation, men in the Japanese occupational force were excluded from the leave scheme. Mr Webb had asked the Minister if he were aware that some men in the Middle East who were going to Japan were not receiving the same considei - ation as others? Mr Webb added that it was mainly the 18-year-old serviceman who was affected by this apparent discrimination. Mr Jones, in his reply, said it was also decided that as far as men liable for service in Japan were concerned, such service should take precedence over all other duties and activities. Members of the force going to Japan would be eligible for bursaries, courses and all other rehabilitation privileges when their tour of duty in Japan was completed. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS FOR FORCES Mr Jones, answering an urgent question by Mr Sheat (National. Patea) said the five days of December 25th, 26th and 27th and January Ist and 2nd had been declared special holidays for all R.N.Z.A.F. personnel. Similar provisions had been made by the Army. Additional leave would be granted but would be charged against the annual leave entitlement. Special arrangements had been made to carry long distance travellers by air and within the next few days negotiations with the Railways Department for the transport of short distance travellers would be completed. Personnel required to maintain essential services on units during the holiday period would get equivalent leave later. RETURN OF 9th REINFORCEMENTS Mr Harker (National. Waipawa) asked the Minister of Defence whether in view of the delay in the return of the 9th Reinforcements personnel to New Zealand he would arrange for those still in the Middle East to participate in the scheme for furlough to Britain? Mr Jones replied that the time factor prevented the request being acceded to. Some two thousand men of the 9th Reinforcements still in the Middle East were due to embark for New Zealand about 12th December, which meant that there was insufficient time for the remainder of the 9th Reinforcements to visit England and return to Italy in time to embark on the ship allotted to bring them to New Zealand. INCREASED MUFTI ALLOWANCES WANTED : Mr Sim (National, Rotorua) asked ’ the Minister of Defence to increase ; the mufti allowance for returned servicemen from the present £25 to a sum more in keeping with present-day Mr Jones replied that the allowance was generous compared with that for the men of the 1914-18 war, being nearly five times as great. The Government’s stabilisation policy was to keep price levels dowm and for this purpose subsidies had been available ; for some time. It was considered that ■ this policy was more beneficial than that, suggested by Mr Sim. The Minister of Finance. Mr Nash, answering an urgent question by Mr ; Marker (National. Waipawa) said that the Army Department had advised ’ that servicemen from the Middle East visiting Britain on furlough had suffi- ' cient credit in their paybooks to meet their needs or they could ob'ain reasonable advances against pay. Free [ rail fares were being provided and the ! soldiers’ expenditure would oe rela--1 tively small. They could also have £4O yearly transmitted to them from ; New Zealand and it appeared on present evidence that this sum, together ’ with pay they could draw in sterling ! was adequate. If circumstances warranted an increased remittance would be authorised.