THE WAR EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24630, 11 June 1941, Page 4

THE WAR EFFORT

DETRIMENTAL ACTS DISCIPLINARY MEASURES MOOTED (Special) WELLINGTON, June 10. " The Government is giving full consideration to steps which may be necessary to deal with persons or organisations whose acts may be detrimental to public morale and the war effort said the Acting Prime Minister, Mr W. Nash, in the House of Representatives this afternoon, replying to an question asked by Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga). Mr Doidge asked whether in view of the of the Government by workers at Westfield last Wednesday, when 145 men ceased work in a body to attend a race meeting, the Government would follow the example of the United Kingdom and introduce legislation making such action in war-time punishable by either" a .fine •of imprisonment. ■• ■■ ,' In a note to his question, Mr Doidge said that Mr Ernest Bevin. Minister of Labour in Britain, was responsible for a measure now in operation which made it a punishable offence for any man to leave his work without permission. Such an offence involved a fine of £IOO or, alternatively, three months imprisonment.