SESSION'S WORK SERVICE IN PACIFIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25058, 23 November 1944, Page 4

SESSION'S WORK

SERVICE IN PACIFIC

MR FRASER'S VIEW END BY DECEMBER 15 MAN® BILLS TO,COME (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The House of Representatives should be able to complete its business and rise b.y December 15, said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, when replying in the House today to a request by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, for details of the programme of legislation and matters to be considered. In view of the extent of the programme, he said, it might be considered advisable to sit over one or two week-ends. Eleven additional bills were yet to be introduced, said Mr Fraser. They were the Agricultural Emergency Regulations Confirmation Hill, the Emergency Regulations Amendment Bill, tho Engineers Registration Amendment Bill, a Finance Bill, a Housing Improvement and Slum Reclamation Bill, Land and Income Tax Amendment, Land Laws Amendment, Public Works Amendment, Rehabilitation Amendment and Statutes Amendment Bills, and a Wool Industry Bill. There were also a number of matters for which requests had been made for opportunities to discuss, continued Mr Fraser. Among these were the monetary conference at Bretton Woods and the food conference at Hot Springs. It was hoped it might be possible to set aside one or two days for these purposes, as he attached a great deal of importance to these discussions. "We do not want to rush the business, nor drag it out unduly," added the Prime Minister. "I am willing to make any arrangements that will suit the House." QUIET DAY IN HOUSE TWO MEASURES COMPLETED (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Most of tho sitting of the House of Representatives today was occupied in considering the Earthquake and War Damage Bill, which was put through its remaining stages and passed. It received the support of the Opposition, which contributed almost all the speeches to the second reading debate. The Clerks of Works Bill was also passed after about one and a-half hours' discussion. The Administration Amendment Bill, the Frustrated Contracts Bill, and the Law Reform Bill, which were introduced before the recess, were reported back from the Statutes Revision Committee without amendment. These measures will probably be debated tomorrow afternoon, and in the evening it is anticipated that the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Bill will be taken. The House rose at 10.15 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. tomorrow.

AMERICAN DECORATION AWARD TO BRIGADIER (P A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The American Legion of Merit. Degree of Commander, will be presented at Trentham camp tomorrow to Brigader R. A. Row, D.S.O. and bar, upon whom it has been conferred by the United States Navv Department. The presentation will be made by the United States Naval Attache, Captain L. R. Gray, U.S.N.

Tho decoration has been awarded in recognition of Brigadier Row's services in the Pacific, where he commanded a brigade of the Third Division. There will be a ceremonial parade of troops, including all Third Division officers and other ranks in Mie camp ; Brigadier L. G. Goss, deputy-Chief of the General Staff, will represent the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant-General E. Puttick. AWARD TO AIRMAN DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Force lul and inspiring leadership in the Pacific air war has resulted in the award of the American Distinguished Flying Cross to Flight-Lieutenant R. H. Balfour, D.F.C., formerly of Waimate. The presentation was made at Wigram today by Captain Lloyd Gray, United States Naval Attache. FlightLieutenant Balfour is the second R.N.Z.A.F. pilot to win the British and American Distinguished Flying Crosses in the Pacific. Completing three tours in the Pacific, the last as commanding officer of a fighter squadron, Flight-Lieutenant Balfour is credited with the destruction of four and a-half Japanese aircraft. CONVOYS TO NORMANDY D.S.C. FOR NEW ZEALANDERS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Advice has been received irom tho Admiralty that the King has approved the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Temporary-Lieutenant Neil Watson, of Paraparaumu, and Tem-porary-Lieutenant T. E. Atkinson, of Lower Hutt, R.N.Z.N.V.R., for good service in action with the enemy while protecting the passage of troops aid supplies to Normandy beaches. The award- of mention in despatches to acting-Temporary-Lieutenant D. Cameron, R.N.Z.N.V.R., of Wellington, has also been approved by the King. ROSE DAY APPEAL R.S.A. BUILDING FUND The second Rose Day appeal of the Auckland Returned Services Association will be held tomorrow in the city and suburbs. All preparations are complete. Over 70,000 artificial roses have been made .by voluntary women helpers, working as individuals or as members of organisations. As a result of the first appeal, in December last year, nearlv £.'looo was raised toward the association's building fund, to which the money collected this year will also be added. Auckland now possesses in tho association's new building in High Street, a centre of R.S.A. activities that is worthy of A he city. In addition to modern offices, where advice and assistance are given to thousands of ex-service > men and women, a well-equipped cafeteria has been provided and club rooms occupying a whole floor have now been opened. These include billiards, card and reading rooms. Five full-sized billiards tables have been installed and all the rooms have been suitably furnished. The appeal tomorrow is for financial assistance from the public to meet the cost entailed bv the provision of these facilities for the benefit of ex-servicemen and women.