GRANT OF DENTAL BURSARY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23324, 6 October 1945, Page 7

GRANT OF DENTAL BURSARY

Former Conscientious Objector Ministerial Influence Alleged

Discussion In House (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 5. Allegations made last year by the Opposition of Ministerial influence in favour of a conscientious objector who received a dental bursary were renewed in the House of Representatives to-day during the discussion of the Health Department Estimates.

Mr W- A- Bodkin (National, Central Otago) said that on the same day that the matter was raised in the House last year, an urgent letter was sent by special messenger from the Director of National service to the Director of Mobilisation requesting that the man concerned should be released from mobilisation in order to enable him to take up studies as a dental bursar at the Otago Dental School. Mr Bodkin asked what Minister of the Crown had been responsible for ordering that a memorandum be sent. The Minister of Manpower (the Hon. A. McLagan, M.L.C.) had denied all responsibility for it. It was plain that some member of the Cabinet had intervened. What had occurred showed neglect ot the principles generally observed in a democracy, and showed the extent of the political pull possessed by some individuals. •‘Brutal Vindictiveness”

The Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer said that Mr Bodkin’s speech showed with what brutal vindictiveness the Opposition had followed that particular man. "I want to correct the falsehoods that have been told,” said Mr Nordmeyer. Several Opposition members rose to a point or order, but the Chairman 01 Committees (Mr R. McKeent, who said that members were very touchy this morning, ruled the word in order, provided it was not used in reference to any member of the House. Mr Nordmeyer said that deliberate falsehoods had been circulated throughout the country concerning this matter. It was a lie that the man had applied for a bursary before he entered camp. He applied for a bursary as a soldier. An opposition voice: Some soldier. Mr Nordmeyer sail he had merely granted bursaries as recommended to him. He had no knowledge of what steps were taken by soldier bursars to obtain release. His attitude was that their release Was no affair of his. Mr F. W. Doidge (National, Tauranga) said the situation to his mind was one that stank. A wrong had been done and had not been corrected. Mr A. S. Sutherland (National, Hauraki) moved the reduction of the total vote by £4 as an indication that the House required that all papers in connection with the dental bursary granted to an ex-military defaulter be laid upon the table of the House. Explanation by Mr Nash The Hon. w. Nash said that Mr Bodkin had declared that the letter concerning this bursary was written on October 6, 1944, by Mr J. S. Hunter, Director of National Service, to the Director of Mobilisation at Army Headquarters. That could not have been correct. Mr Bodkin: The member for Mataura saw the letter. Mr Nash: Mr Hunter resigned as Director of National Service in May. 1944.

Mr K. J. Holyoake (National, Pahiatua): Then delete the name of Mr Hunter and carry on with the argument. It was written by the Director of National Service. i Mr Nash said the House had been misled by Mr Bodkin. A man who resigned from a position in May, 1944, could not have signed a letter in that same capacity in October, 1944. Mr Clifton Webb (National, Kaipara): For once the Minister of Finance is logical. Mr Nash said the man concerned was released from the Army in March, 1943. Mr T. L. Macdonald (National. Mataura): On whose authority? Mr Nash said that release could be granted only on the Army’s authority. Tire Army gave its authority for the release on the receipt of a telephone message from the Director of National Service in 1943, saying he would like the man released in order to take up a bursary. When the matter was discussed in the House in October last year, the Army found that it had no recorded authority for the man’s release other than the original telephone message, and so asked for a letter from the Director of National Service confirming the telephone request made in 1943. That was the explanation of the letter to which Mr Bodkin had referred. It was written simply to place on the Army file in accordance with national procedure written confirmation of the telephone request. After further discussion, the amendment was defeated by 36 votes to 31, and the vote was passed.