MANPOWER POSITION

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 21, 20 October 1942, Page 4

MANPOWER POSITION

Discussion To Be Taken In Secret CHANGE IN WAR SITUATION The desirability.of having a discussion in open on the manpower positionin'view "of -the present situation in the Pacific was questioned by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, in , the House yesterday. An inquiry as to the business to. be done before the finish of Die? session had been-made by the Leader of. the Opposition, Mr. Holland, who had suggested-that statistical information relating to manpower resources should be circulated to members before the actual debate on manpower took place. Mr. Fraser'said it was obvious" that the position in the Pacific had altered very considerably since lie had stated a few days ago that-the discussion on manpower, might well be taken in open session. At:,the.present moment things were very much in the balance, and it was well to face up to that. He had thought the discussion could very well .be taken in open session, but lie now doubted ■ very much if that could be done. It could be held in secret with the Press present, but no reports could be taken. Then in view of certain other matters which would be . explained in secret, he doubted if it would be beneficial to have a discussion on manpower in open session at all. i The (Prime Minister said he intended to work toward Thursday evening or afternoon for the secret session. He was not certain that the session could finish on Thursday. He did not want to hurry discussion on the Finance Bill, for it might be the last opportunity this year for a full discussion with the latitude allowed by such a measure. He intended to ask for urgency for the Finance Bill with a view to getting it through all stages atjyesterday’s sitting. Apart from a Fair Rents Amendment Bill, which had yet to be introduced, .none of the other legislation was very important. A Statutes Amendment' Bill, which contained a numbey of .-unrelated clauses, had also to be introduced. “The whole manpower position, is important and requires careful consideration,” said Mr. Fraser. “All the information, possible will be given to the House. I can-say that.the question is receiving very careful .consideration .for reasons that must be obvious to everyone.”