UNDER FIRE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20987, 14 December 1939, Page 9

UNDER FIRE

BRITISH CENSORSHIP STORIES OF MUDDLING WHY MEMBER RESIGNED .United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrignt, LONDON, Dec. 12 The Censorship Bureau of the Ministry of Information was again under fire in the House of Lords, when several peers alternately astonished and amused the House with stories of early muddling. A stormy debate wound up with assurances from Lord Macmillan, Minister of Information, that the Ministry was not a home for idlers. Lord Raglan pointed out that he received £750 a year to examine illustrated papers, but was only able to find an hour’s work a day. He was then asked if he wanted a private secretary. (Laughter). Thereupon he resigned. Overpaid and Overstaffed Lord Raglan added that the Censorship Department was overpaid anti overstaffed. The night staff did nothing. They arrived at midnight, wem to camp beds in the Bureau, ami stayed until morning. Two Assistant Censors were appointed in his department, and later he found that four “lady examiners ’ had been added—by whom and for what purpose he had never discovered. They did nothing all day. Lord Raglan said he had informed the senior officer, but the only leply to that was the appointment of a flfta lady. (Renewed laughter). Lord Raglan went on to say the photographic staff seemed to be hard at work stopping the publication oi photographs in London, which were appearing in all the provincial papers Earl Midleton saia the time had come to emphasise that the deepest indignation was prevailing in all classes at the utter squandering of money in these and similar appointments. Unless the Government pledged itself to deal with the position he would make some most unpleasant disclosures. Forced to Clear Up The Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, Colonial Under-Secretary, complained that Lord Macmillan—Lord Raglan’s successor—had been forced to work 12 hours a day clearing up. Lord Raglan: I left a perfectly clean sheet. Lord Dufferin and Ava: Our conceptions of a clean sheet differ. Lord Macmillan is amply occupied, and his staff is not redundant and not excessively paid. Many are giving their services free. The House of Commons to-day appointed an all-party Select Committee to examine all war expenditure and report what economies, if any, can be made, consistent with Government policy. AUSTRALIAN FORCE EARLY DEPARTURE OVERSEAS HOSPITAL UNITS EQUIPPED BIG VOLUNTEER STAFFS vUnited Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 14, 12.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Dec. 14 Fully-equipped hospital units, staffed by volunteer medical and nursing staffs, will accompany the second Australian Infantry Force when it leaves for service overseas early next year. The hospital equipment to accompany the force includes one casualty clearing station, one 600-bed general hospital, one 1200-bed general hospital, and a number of convalescent depots. * The hospitals will be staffed by 138 volunteer nurses and 106 volunteer medical practitioners.

The new Foreign Minister in the Swedish Cabinet, which has just been reconstructed, is M. Guaenther.