SECRET SESSION?

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20919, 20 October 1942, Page 2

SECRET SESSION?

MAN-POWER DEBATE THE POSITION ALTERED ‘EVERYTHING IN BALANCE’ (P.R.) WELLINGTON, this day. Although the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, told the House of Representatives yesterday that he would like the promised discussion on man-power to be as wide as possible, he also expressed his doubts as to whether it would be advisable to have a public debate. . “It is obvious," said Mr. Fraser, “that since I made my previous statement about a man-power debate the position in the Pacific has altered very considerably. At the present moment everything is very much in the balance. It is as well to face up to that.”

Mr. Fraser was replying to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G Holland, who said, in connection with the remaining business of the session, that members had been looking forward to an opportunity of discussing the man-power position. Mr. Holland added that he understood that there was certain statistical information anc" he hoped that members would have an opportunity of studying this before the man-power debate took place. In the effort to strike a balance between the needs of thp armed forces and of production it was very important that members should fully understand to-day’s position. The Prime Minister agreed that the whole man-power position was very important and required careful con[sideration. Whether Jie could get a I condensation made in time of the voluminous reports that had been prepared was doubtful. ' I “I shall give whatever information it is possible to give to the House in regard to the position,” added Mr | Fraser, “and I can indicate also that jit’.is receiving the very earliest consideration of the Government for reai sons that must be obvious to everybody.”