PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2567, 15 September 1915, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

' the estimate: POLICE FORCE MATTERS OUR WAR CORRESPONDENT AND THE CENSOR The House of Representatives met ai 2.30 p.m. Mr. C. J. TALBOT . (Temuka) gave notice to ask the Prime Minister whether ho was aware.that a movement was afoot to form a sawmillers' ring, with, the object of raising the price ,of tim-. bor by from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per 100 feet. Such an increaso in the prioe of building material would he very, oppressive to those about to build. The Alien Enemy Teachers Bill (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) was introduced and read a first time. The Rt. Hon. W. F. MASSEY gave notice of his intention to introduce thf Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill. HONOURINC THE DEAD. The Rt. Hon. W. F. MASSEY moved that the House record its high sense of the services rendered to New Zealand by the late Mr. John M'Lachlan, a former member of tho House of Representatives, and express sympathy for his widow and family in their bereavement. After referring to Mr. M'Lachlan's record as a public man and a Member of Parliament, Mr'. Massey Baid that Mr. M'Lachlan was a man of great natural ability, shrewd, and with a keen sense of humour. In his time in the House ho made many friends. The motion was supported by Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Nosworthy, who represents the district" for which Mr; M'Lachlan formerly sat. ' The motion was carried. Tho PRIME MINISTER moved ■ a similar motion respecting the late-Mr. George Beetham, a former member of the House of Representatives. The late Mr. Beetham, said Mr. Massey, was the third son of the late Mr. 'William Beetham, and he came to New Zealand with his family in 1840. Ha settled with his brothers in the Wairarapa district on the "Brancepeth" Estate, which tho family had owned ever since. He was elected a member-of the House of Representatives for Wairarapa in 1877, and he represented the district continuously until 1890. In his later years in Parliament he was Whip of the Atkinson Party. Mr: Beetlmm went to reside in London in 1898, and when war broke out took a very active part in looking after New Zealand sick and wounded soldiers in England. Mr. Massey said he had never had the pleasure of Mr.- Beetham's acquaintance, but Mr. Beetham's record was a good one. SIR JOSEPH WARD, supporting the motion, said he could bear testimony io the kindness and help extended by Mr. Beetham in London to strangers from New Zealand visiting England for the first tim?. Dr. NEWMAN (Wellington East) said that Mr. Beetham had been a very interesting personality in the House, and very popular with his fellow-mem-bers. Indeed, there had been" general regret when''the Atkinson Ministry was formed that Mr. Beetham was not included in it. In England he had taken an active interest in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He had presented to tho New Zealand Government a motor ambulance,' and ho had done everything possible, working with com-, mittees in London. to see that our men were cared for well. ' ,Tho Hon. J. ALLEN and Mr. D. BUICIC, supporting: the motion, spoki of the good qualities ,of the deceased gentleman. The House v adjourned at 3.10 p.m. until 7.30 p.m., out of respect for tha 'memory of the two former members. THE ESTIMATES JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PAYMENTS.The 'House went into Committee on the Estimates. On the ola6s, Justice DepartmentsMr. J. T. M. Hornsby. (Wairarapa) asked the Minister why a fee of 200 guineas had; been given to the SolicitorGeneral for drafting tho Cook Islands Bill. i • The Hon. A. L. Herdman (AttorneyGeneral) said that in this case the drafting of the Bill required a great deal of skill, and it was an exceptional Bill, for it provided the Cook Islands witli a new Constitution, and a new set of laws. The work was done by tha Solicitor-General in his own time, for it was not his duty, to draft Bills. When the Bill had to be drawn up it became necessary to liave some specially skilled person to do the work, and the Solici-tor-General was best fitted for that work. The payment was absolutely warranted. At the same time he did not favour tho principle in ordinary'circumstances. ' 1

Mr. Hornsby desired to know why it was sought to make out before the last general election that he was a Civil Servant because he . occupied the position, of coroner in the Wairarapa. He contended that his removal was a "political scandal." He resigned because he was told that he would bo disqualified if elected. . Tlie Hon. A'. L. Herdmaa said that prior to the election he received a communication that Mr. Hornsby was a coroner, and in view of this he would be disqualified if he was elected. a member of. Parliament. The. Solicitor-Gen-eral went into the position, and cams to the conclusion that if the 'hon. member was elected he would he disqualified. The matter wa6 then referred to tho Justice Department, and they, communicated with the • ton. member. "If I had been a bitter opponent of the ho'n. gentleman," said Mr. Hordman, "if I had wanted to perpetrate' a scaiulalj I could have left, liim alone with' tho knowledge I possessed that I could have disqualified liim the next dav if ho had bean elected." Mr. J. Payne (Grey Lynn) thought a' scheme might be drafted to assist prisoners on their release from gaol. Government employment could be given to them on • Crown lands. Women police! Mr. R.' A. Wright; (Wellington Suburbs) asked the Minister, whether ho had given any consideration to the question of employing women as police officers. Ho pointed cut that women had been employed iri other parts with a considerable amount of success. Mr. Herdman said that the matte? of employing women police had been considered by the Department, and they were collecting information. As soon as tho Department became possessed of information that the value of the police force would be increased by employing womon they would, be employed An experiment had recently, taken place in this direction in New South Wales, but it was not yet certain' that tho experiment had proved a success. Last week he received some informationon the matter from San Francisco. - Mr. Hornsby suggested political influcnco in the transfer of two constable/ —Constable Baker, a supporter of his l from Featlierston to Paeroa, and Con* stable Miles from Paeroa to To Awa' lmitu. Ho said that Constable Bakeh was virtually reduced by the transfer,' while Constablo Miles, a strong 'Reform supporter, had been promoted. Ha mado some accusations against ' Constable Miles's character. Mv.--Herdma.il, in replying, said that tho lion, member had absolutely failed to show golitical' influence; Ho had,

never board . the iiame of Constable 'Miles'.bofore. As to tho constable at his (Mr. Herdman's) recollection.. was \ that . - v tho . Commissioner, of ' Police intimated that it was undesirable that' ho should remain in that place - because . some relative of his kept a hotel. Both ot the changes wero made on the recommendation of the Commissioner of Police, and nobody else. He intimated that ho would' call upon the member for Wairarapa "to substantiate; those statements against Constable Miles. If they , wore proved' the' constable would not remain in the Police Force a day longer." The, Commissioner hadinformed hint .that the man's' reputation was beyond reproach. Mr.. W. A.'Vpitoh (Wanganui) desired* to know why members of the Police Forcewere prevented from join-. Ing the Expeditionary Forces. Ho lioped tlie ;embargo' would be removed. ' Mr. Herdmaii 6aid that nobody regretted more than he that ho could not allow the nietnbers of the Force to go'. -'The-Tanks.of the Force had.been depleted to a ; certain extent, and it was exceedingly difficult to get liieu to fill the vacant places. He had\ uiidertaken to have tho matter discussed by Cabinet. Members would.'.realise that it would be a catastrophe if we allowed our Force of 900 to sink to about'4oo.. Mr: P. O. Webb (Grey) requested that the Police Forco should bo allowed to organise. Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) ■ wanted to know what was to.becomo of tho plain, clothes mqn., . , ■ . . , . ... . Mr. Hordnian said that the matter of allowing tho Police . Force to form a union had been thrashed out in the House'before. ' He could not give his consent to it.. He believod tho two branches of the service should bo homogeneous. The clause- was passed.

Our War Correspondent. • Ou. tho Internal Affairs Department. Mr. H. Poland (Ohincmuri) asked for a statement regarding the sum of £1000 .voted for the official New Zealand war correspondent, He thought an explanation should be given of the delay in the despatches from-the, front •by Mr. Ross. Tho Right Hon.: W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) said that Mr. Ross had. - had ■ a very hard 'row to hoe in getting, to the. front, and yince getting there his. articles had been censored more than any other correspondent's. He' (Mr! Massey) had had a communication from the manager of the Press Association, and ho had eaid that, tho best part of Mr. Ross's letters ! .\vas out oiit. .. Mr. Ross, would cable his 1 news if he was so instructed, but that . would entail a greater cost; Sir. Ross was not allowed to mention the name of any ofßccr or Soldier at the front. .It was "a most ; extraordinary precaution. The fault was not due to.the correspondent, for he had-been very badly treated, for some reason that he i (Mr. Massey) did not understand. . .. ■ r■ , '

Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) said that' the, statement, disclosed the fact that the reports coming to ,us were quite useless: - He. thought the best thing to ' do was to rely upon, those reports : cabled to us from i another source. ..He suggested that the wisest thing was to bring the reporter back. It was unfair to his reputation to keep him there.- .

Mi'. ,G. Witty (Riccarton) asked if the Prime Minister could .find 'out the reason for this striot censorship on our. correspondent's articles. . Mr. Massey. : I liavo been in communication with the Home' Government on the matter, but have not yet received u reply. Mr. Horhsby'siiffgested that Mr. Ross should be allowed to cable as much ae was .perniit'ted when, a serious:. engage-ment-took plac». : Tlio Hon. . G. ,W> -Russell -(Minister of Internal Affairs) said that'ho had liad evidence of the. way Mr. - Ross's were r censored. Ho was jiiLazed at ; tho way they wore cut about. It.-was'entirely different' to the treat-ment-accorded Captain Bean, the Official. Australian Correspondent.A proposal had been made that Mr. R-ose's reports should be cabled from Fremautle, bnt wliilo they were being censored at the other end, as at present, it was useless to do that. The Government was watching, the matter =as. closely as i»ssiblej and the Prime Minister was taking steps to see that Mr. Ross was placed ion tlie same footing as the Australian correspondent. Mr. Payne asked hov.' the appointment' was made. He held that it was a. waste of money. ' 3fr. Massey said that he did. not understand why Mr. Ross was so badly treated by the censors, but certainly' he was not getting the same consideration as. tlio others. He explained; the position leading up to the selectioil of Mr,' Ross.

Some discussion took place on the vote of £40,000 for tho taking of . the census. \ The Minister said that the Government was considering whether or not the census could be postponed till next- year. The' National Register had aothing to do with the census. (Left Sitting.):