WAR QUESTIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2549, 25 August 1915, Page 2

WAR QUESTIONS

THE USUAL BOMBARDMENT A DOUBTFUL REPORT When tho House of Representatives met yesterday afternoon the Ministers were bombarded as usual with questions relatina to tho war. Mr. J. T. j\[. Rornsby (Wairarapa) •asked tho Minister of IMonce whether lie hail seen the paragraph' appearing in certain AVairarapa journals headed "Almost a Mutiny," "Trouble on a Troopship." The paragraph contained an extract- from a letter written by Tjieu tenant-Colonel Herbert to a- friend in Eketahuna, wherein Colonel Herbert stated that there was almost a mutiny on tho troopship conveying the Maori troons and others from Malta to Gsillipoli Peninsula, owing to tho prices charged for food, and that lie had had to place the chief steward in irons. Tho Hon. J. Allen said ho had seen the newspaper accounts, but lie was inclined to accept with a good deal of hesitation newspaper accounts of what occurred. Mr.' Hornsbv: But this is a private letter from Colonel Herbert. Mr. Allen: Tho newspaper says it is. T. don't think for a. moment that the Maoris were charged for their food on transports, because I know that on troopships'food is supplied free of cost." SHORTACE OF; NURSES. Mr. E. Fletcher (Wellington Central) asked the Minister of Public .Health whether, in view of the scarcity of trained nurses he wolild be prepared to give' concessions to nurses now training bv allowing them to sit for their finai examinations in December next, instead of waiting until June next. This .had been done m the Australian'colonies.

: Tho Hon. G. W. Russell said that the obiect of the legislation of this country for a number of years past had been to insist upon a high standard of efficiency for nurses by requiring an adequate training and examination test. "Up till the present the Minister of Defence liad not indicated that there was any likelihood of difficulty in obtaining thoroughly trained 'nurses for sorvice abrdad. There was more likely to be: a shortage of efficient trained nurses for the hosnitals of the country in consequence of the number wlio had already gone away. The period of training for nurses wrfs fixed by the Nurses Registration Act, and legislation would bo necessary before that period could be shortened. And while he knew that there was great enthusiasm among nurses •to volunteer for war service, lie did not think it was desirable that we should deplete tho civil hospitals of the country by-allow-ing those who had not completed their training to leave- the hospitals Which wore their training schools. Tlowcver, ho would give the matter consideration and if tho need arose he would be glad to introduce, tho legislation necessary. Mr. Fletcher said that a conference was being called to consider the shortage of nurses. • Mr. Russell said that this was not so. The conference was being called to prepare an organisation by which all tho available trained women in the country who had nursing skill could be utilised if necessary. .i THE NATIONAL RESERVE. Dr. H. T. J. Thacker (Christchurch East) asked tho Minister of Defence ii ho had any intention of giving official recognition to the Citizens' Defence Corps throughout tho Dominion. lii England at present there were in the neighbourhood of' two million fnen so organised. Far from being detrimental to recruiting this system had tho opposite effect. .Tho Hon. J. Allen said that ho'was making provision for the recognition of tho National Reserve. He did not see how he could recognise all the various bodies springing into existence, but all might he recognised if they -would join together under the one name. (Hon, members: Hear, hear,.) , . Mr. Wilford asked if the PostmasterGeneral would allow tho Womon's Brancli of the National Reserve to place a recruiting poster , for their organisation on tho post offices of the Dominion. It was proposed to have olio poster throughout the Dominion in connection with the matter. Sir Joseph Ward said that he would give the request consideration. Ordinarily. it was the rule of the Post Ofiie. to decline requests to have posters ox hibitcd, but times were not normal, and the purposo of this request was noi : usual one.