DEPUTATION TO HON. WILFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1919, Page 2

DEPUTATION TO HON. WILFORD.

THE RELEASE OF WEBB AND CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Greymouth, March 8. Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister for Marine, who arrived here last night, received members of the Greymouth Harbor Board to-day a3 a deputation, who submitted suggestions to the Minister to place the Board on a better financial footing. The Minister undertook to consult the Alinister of Railways on his return to Wellington with the object of arranging a solution of the present difficulties of the Board, which at present owed the Government £21,000 in connection with loans. He thought the Board should have the railway area, and if a rate were struck the Government could give a subsidy, but it was necessary to ascertain how the Board stood towards the Railway Department financially before anything could be done.

This evening the Minister received deputations from the Grey Port watersiders advocating better lighting of the wharf, and' promised favorable consideration.

A large deputation representing local returned soldiers, supported by the Labor Party, asked for the release of P. ;C. Webb. Mr Holland, .M.P./introduced deputations ' representing .Labor party, iseamen and others asking for the release of conscientious objectors, also the Green ; Ray editor and' publisher; ajid 'Alice Parkinson, also urging to oppose the proposal of the Defence Minister re four months' compulsory military service for .18 year old youths, also tu take action to secure,for seamen the right to ypte at the April Liquor Referendum. '■

Replying, the.Hon. Wilford said the question, of the release of conscientious objectors; and military offenders was one of policy and was for Cabinet's decision. "Personally," said Mr Wilford, "I will not help any conscientious objector or military prisoner to snap the position required by returning soldiers. Their need came first in my opinion." Re the Green Ray prisoners Cabinet had already decided to take no action. Re Alice Parkinson he would look into ths facts of the case and make a pronouncement later. Re the Minister of Defence's proposal for four months' training at camps, he would defer a reply until he ascertained the actual value of the proposal. Re the seamen's vote he would, as Minister of Marine, see they got a vote. The Minister leaves on his return to Wellington tula morning.