ESTIMATES MAY BE DIVERTED

Southland Times, Issue 23922, 14 September 1939, Page 6

ESTIMATES MAY BE DIVERTED

WORK NECESSARY FOR DEFENCE MR FRASER’S ASSURANCE TO OPPOSITION LEADER (From Our Parliamentary Reporter), WELLINGTON, September 13. Eighty-five minutes sufficed for the House of Representatives this evening to put through the Public Works Estimates, involving the expenditure of £20,268,200 for the current financial year, an arrangement between the parties enabling this to be done. A suggestion was made by the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) that in view of the war situation the Estimates should be drastically overhauled by the Government with the object of curtailing expenditure, which showed an increase, and the diversion of money to more urgent matters. A prompt reply was made by the acting Prime Minister, (the Hon. P. Frager), who said that the passing of the Estimates did not ' prevent their being switched over to work that was necessary for the defence of the country and towards production.

Mr Hamilton said that the Estimates were drawn up before the declaration of war and he thought that the Opposition would not be overstepping its rights in asking that they should be taken back and remodelled. “I think it is up to the Minister or acting Leader of the House to give the House and the country an assurance that these Estimates will be drastically overhauled for the rest of the financial year with a view to the curtailment of expenditure of money and its diversion to more urgent matters, ’ said Mr Hamilton. Two urgent matters were defence and the successful prosecution of the war and the production of foodstuffs and supplies for army needs. Mr Hamilton suggested that the Estimates should be. reviewed with a view to putting the emphasis on production and defence matters rather than on public works. “The honorable gentleman’s conception of what ought to be done is exactly what I have given instructions for previously on behalf of the Government,” stated Mr Fraser. The passing of the Estimates must be considered in the light of developments, he said. Therefore, money devoted to certain purposes would, under stress, be voted to whatever was the first job to be done. “There are commitments that must be carried out, but that does not prevent switching over to work that is necessary in the defence of the country at this particular time and towards production that may be as important as actual defence in the final winning of the war,” said the Minister.

NO MASS ARREST OF NAZIS IN BRITAIN

BRITISH REPLY TO BERLIN ASSERTION

(British Official Wireless)

(Received September 13, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, September 12.

It was stated in a German news bulletin today that Germans in the United Kingdom were being arrested and their property confiscated. This is untrue. As stated in a public notice broadcast on September 3 and reproduced in the English newspapers the following morning, no obstacle, generally speaking, has been placed in the way of foreigners of any nationality who wish to leave the country. In fact, large numbers of Germans have left.

Of the many thousands of Germans remaining in the United Kingdom a few hundred have been arrested for reasons of national security; each of them has the right of appeal to an independent legal tribunal which will begin work soon. The cases of those remaining at liberty will be investigated by nearly 100 independent tribunals of a legal character which are to be set up in each locality. Germans wishing to leave the country require an exit—the requirement also applies to British subjects. In the absence of special reasons they will receive this permit without difficulty. In no case has the property of Germans in Britain been confiscated.

N.Z. PILOT REPORTED MISSING

(United Press Association)

PALMERSTON NORTH, Sept. 13. Cabled advice has been received by the family of acting Pilot Officer Alan G. Whitehead, Royal Air Force, England, that he is missing and believed drowned as a result of an aircraft accident on 'September 12. Mr Whitehead spent his boyhood in Palmerston North and attended the Boys’ High School, taking matriculation. He entered the Post and Telegraph Department at Palmerston North, was transferred to Wellington, and then changed to the Reserve Bank staff, leaving there for England, where he arrived last Christmas Eve. He was at the training station at Tern Hill, Shropshire, and his last letter advised that he had gained hip wings. He is the first Palmerston North pilot reported missing.