LETTERS IN PRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 September 1941, Page 6

LETTERS IN PRESS

QUESTION DISALLOWED IN HOUSE TRANSPORT MERGER POLICY. MINISTER DENIES COERCION OF INDIVIDUALS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. When the House of Representatives met at 10.30 o’clock today a point of order was raised by the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, when Mr F. W. Doidge (Nat., Tauranga) asked a question regarding anonymous correspondence appearing in the Press regarding the Social Security Amendment Bill. Mr Doidge asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the Government’s recently declared intention regarding the publication of anonymous letters in newspapers, he would note the fact that many letters appearing, condemning the doctors and supporting the Social Security Amendment Bill, were anonymous. Mr Fraser, on the point of order, said the question was more in the nature of propaganda and did not ask for information. This contention was supported by the Speaker, Mr W. E. Barnard, who asked Mr Doidge to forbear from proceeding with the question in its present form. Mr Doidge agreed to such a course. The House continued with its consideration of the Estimates during the remainder of the morning, first consideration being given to the Transport Department's vote. When the Leader of the Opposition. Mr S. G. Holland, contended that transport operators had been coerced into joining mergers, by threats that their licences would be cancelled if they did not, the Minister of Transport, Mr R. Semple, said there had never been any suggestion by the Government or himself of forcing anybody to do anything they did not want to do. Continuing the discussion on the Transport Department Estimates. Mr Semple, replying to a question by Mr Holland, said new number plates for vehicles would not be used during the war. He believed the sticker system had become established and would continue.

The vote was passed and the Marine Department vote of £156,890 was under consideration when the House adjourned at 1 p.m.