L-12A-

1940. NEW ZEALAND.

RECESS DEFENCE COMMITTEE. (REPORT OF).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives.

ORDER OF REFERENCE.

Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Fbiday, the 6tii Day of October, 1939. Ordered, "That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting, by leave, of thirteen members, to consider all matters which may be referred to it by the House or by the Government relating to tho eamp accommodation, comfort,, amenities, recreation, and general welfare of the men of the Special Force, and, in addition, to consider any matters affecting the defence measures of the Dominion which may be referred to it by the Government; that the Committee have power to report from time to time to the Government; that the Committee have power to sit on days on which the House is not sitting and during the recess and for twenty-eight days after the commencement of the next session, and at such times and at such places as the Committee may see fit, and that in the event of the Committee sitting during the recess, that it report to this Houso within twenty-eight days after the commencement of the next ensuing session of Parliament: the Committee to consist of Mr. Anderton, Hon. Mr. Barnard, Right Hon. Mr. Coates, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Cullen, Mr. Frost, Mr. Grigg, Colonel Hargest, Mr. Lee, Mr. Lowry, Mr. Roy, Mr. Tirikatene, and the Mover."— (Hon. Mr. Jones.)

REPORT.

Chairman. The Hon. W. E. Barnard was appointed Chairman. Meetings. Meetings were held on the 7th and Bth November, Ist and 7th December, 1939, sth January and 11th July, 1940. Attendance. The only absences from meetings were occasioned by the attendance of members to other official: duties. Functions of Committee. (a) At the first meeting the Minister of Defence intimated that, although the terms of reference did not include the Air Force, there was no objection to the inclusion of Air Force camps within the province of the Committee. (b) The Minister of Defence further suggested that the main Committee be divided into four subcommittees of three members each, each sub-committee to visit certain camps and receive representations. This suggestion was the subject of discussion, after which the following resolution was adopted : — " That an individual member of the Committee or a small group of members of the Committee decide what visit is to be undertaken, and this information to be communicated to the secretary. Each proposal for a visit to a camp by a sub-committee be referred to the Hon. the Minister by the secretary, and if Ministerial approval is signified, the secretary tomake arrangements for the visit accordingly. It was not desired that any rigidity be imposed on the personnel of the Committee or the time when visits be made. It was also agreed that where a sub-committee visits the electorate of a member of Parliament who is a member of the Defence Select Committee, that member be informed of the visit."