VOLUNTEER UNIT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25962, 1 October 1945, Page 4

VOLUNTEER UNIT

OPPOSITION’S VIEW DECISION CRITICISED CAREERS OF YOUNGER MEN (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 30. Criticism of the Government's decision to send a compulsory force as part of the British Commonwealth force in Japan was expressed to-day by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, who maintained that, in spite of the Government’s delay, there was still time to raise a voluntary force in New Zealand for this duty. “The first hint that a British Commonwealth force would be sent to Japan was received by the New' Zealand Government before the Japanese surrender over a month ago,” said Mr Holland. “The Opposition was not consulted, and knew' nothing whatever about it until four weeks later, w'hen the Prime Minister informed me of the proposal, that South Africa and Canada would not be participating at all. and that Australia would be sending a force of her own, being quite distinct from the Commonwealth force.”

Delay in Consultation

After detailing the correspondence w-hich had passed between the Government and the Opposition on the question, Mr Holland summarised the Opposition’s attitude in the following points:— “The Opposition has always been willing to co-operate with the Government in all matters of national importance that transcend considerations of party politics. We were neither informed nor consulted for several weeks after the Government had been approached by the British Prime Minister, Mr C. R. Attlee, with a request that New Zealand should contribute towards the British Commonwealth force of occupation in Japan. “ Immediately it was consulted the Opposition advised Mr Fraser that it was New Zealand’s duty to accede to Mr Attlee’s request for a New Zealand force. The force can in no sense be called a British Commonwealth force, as South Africa and Canada are not in it. The American and Australian forces are in the main to be volunteers. The fact that Australia’s men are to have 90 days’ leave before proceeding to Japan shows that there is no desperate hurry. “The Opposition has seen no document that satisfies it that the force should be in Japan by November. The only point of difference between the Government and the Opposition is that we think the force should be a voluntary one and the Government has decided that it shall be a compulsory one. Interests of Younger Men “The Opposition is deeply concerned for the welfare of the young men of the latest overseas reinforcements. A great many of them are in the 22 to 25 years age group, and have been in the army for upwards of five years. Many of them joined the colours soon after leaving school, and have hardly been in private employment. Now they are grown-up men with little or no commercial or industrial experience. In our opinion, they should be returned to New Zealand at the earliest possible date and the complex problem of their rehabilitation tackled immediately. " I have reason to believe that if the question of providing a voluntary or compulsory force were submitted to a free vote of the members of Parliament there would be a substantial majority in favour of a voluntary force.”