SOLDIERS' DEPENDANTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 176, 15 April 1918, Page 6

SOLDIERS' DEPENDANTS

A STRONG APPEAL LIVELY GENERAL" DEBATE, ■ Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh (Wellington South) made an appeal for mere generous treatment to inotners of sons at the front by the Financial Assistance Board. Ho mentioned 'particularly the case of a Iranian in Wellington who, ho asserted, was starving herself because she would not spend her eons' allotment moneys, saying that she considered she ought to keep it against the return of her two boy*.

Sir. Jnines Allen (Minister of. Defence) said Hi at if cases of hardship were brought to his notice he would inquire into thein. But he had lo deal with cases by general regulations, and however carefully; those regulations were drawn, there would be special or peeu-' liar cases which would not be fully mot by them. He' considered that these cases were those which ought to bo met by tho patriotic societies. The regulations had boon amended recently, and they wore now very generous indeed. He repeated that he would inquire into any specific ca6e. t Free Hospital Treatment,

Mr. G. J. Anderson (Mataura) urged that free hospital treatment should •■ be given to the wives and children of' soldiers as of right. There should be no question raised about ability to pay. Sir Joseph Ward suggested to the Committee that tho matters-then being discussed wero not dealt with in tho Bill at all. He would undertake to see that, the representations made would be considered fully by Cabinet. The Hon. G. AY. Russell said ihat tne very matter raised by Mr. Anderson had been dealt with by Cabinet some weeks ago. -Tlie rule now was that the wives and.children of soldiers wore to receive free'treatment at hospitals as of right.

Mr. \V. T. Jennings (Taumarunui) mentioned the case of a widowed mother who had lost her only son, her sole support, in the Navy. She was paid 7s. 9d. a week pension. Sir James Allen: That is an Imperial pension. Mr. Jennings: She is a New Zealand woman. How can a woman live on such a pension?

Home Service Men. Answering a question regarding home service men, Sir James Allen said that every active member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force had the field rates of pay and allowances. Men on homo service in. New Zealand had never been conscripted. They wero volunteers and were not in the same position as men who had been forced to go abroad on active service. Home service men enlisted for the period of the war, and could not get their discharges at will. No man had been called itp compulsonly for homo sorvice. Second Division Allowances, Mr G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) urged the Government to provide an opportunity for the discussion of allowances, Hie members of the Second Division had been told clearly last year that the question of allowances would be befoie Parliament a J gam before the marn d men were taken into camp. They had been told that Parliament would consider the question at the, next session The next session had. come and there would be no other session before the meir entered camp. Had anything been done in the wav of reviewing the question o SlowancS as it. affected the Second Division men? n Xwould n l 'further considered at "Mr" °Not this special session. Mr S This is the last session bef^^H e poobeKS' West) urged m ±n them further SeVatoUt session," he 'sard. . His reference had been to ? If I e recent advance of dates, ,'i i m( i been a ready dropped. • W \ Har" s Waitemata) asked for conMi. A; j. widowed CpavmeDt of separation allowances to !he^wedmotherofas o Ulierw,|s -

hedged round with r e i r , icl,on V hi, \,' 3d -to .i«m !»p'r'.'Vi, „,„„ poilion a« tl» •*• >'>'" tal "" allowance by T-tjlvt. , . Sir .Tame Allen: That is bcuiK IW>sited. Some alteration will be made. Threatened Obstruction. Dr. Thacker (Christchurch Ewt) asked why the House was being denied the opportunity to discuss the question of allowances. A day should be taken tor the debate next week. borne of us have made up our minds, he said, that we are going to have this business discussed whether the Government wishes it or not. We will put it iu by way of obstruction if necessary."

Members: Oh! Dr Thacker: Yes, we will. Why should not Parliament have the opportunity to discuss this important matter? Sir Jos?ph Ward: You can stop and block the JJill and sit here fur a month

as ffr as lam concerned. T am not going to bo bullied and pressed.

Dr. Thackcr: Well, J. A.'.i g,ng to d»maud justice for these weignty matters.

The Prime Minister said he took very strong exception to the toue adopted by the last speaker. Dr. Thncker: You always do.

Mr. Massey: I don't. The last speaker is one of the most objectionable speakers in this House.

' Mr. Payne: It is n free country. Tlie electors sent him here.

Mr. Massey: That is not the point. I am not going- to be threatened by him, and I am not going to give way to threats of obstruction. If members like to go on obstructing the business of tho country and the House, let tbera do so. The members of Cabinet have just .as much sympathy for tha men who are fighting for us and their dependants as ordinary members of Parliament have. More, in fact, but wo do not advertise it. That has been proved by the statement made by the Minister of Xblic Health. We huvo done our duty p.Jperly. This session has been convened tor ft definite purpose. I don't need to go into that. It was never thought of when (ho Ho'isewas sitting on tho last occasion. It was very doubtful then if the War Cabinet would be held this year. Even if we had known that: the meeting would be held, I had at that time expressed my intention to stay in New Zealand. I had no intention of going lo Englnnd this year until the last few weeks. If it had not been for the definite invitation to Prime Ministers and the knowledge of the business to be done, I would not have gone. This special session was called in order to enable the Finance Minister and myself to go." 4 Mr: Massey added that Ministers had _an enormous amount of business to transact in Cabinet. Their burdens had been very great, during recent months, and the time still at their disposal, if they were to get to London, was very limited. He welcomed discuseion in a reasonable spirit, but the more time that was wasted in the House tne less time Ministers would have to devote to the question of separation allowances and other necessary arrangements.

In Justification of Ministers, "I am not going lo commit Cabinet to anything," said Mr. Massey. "But wo have every, possible sympathy with the dependants of the men who are fighting for us. We are willing and anxious to do justice to the men and their dependants, and if the Financial Assistance Board has Keen acting in a parsimonious manner the Ministers will do their best to have the matter put right." Dr. Thacker: That is a fair-promise. Mr. Massey: It would have been done in any case! If there has been any cheese-paring policy it will be put right. Members: There has been a cheeseparing policy. Mr. Massey: "Well, if tho Financial Assistant* Board has not done all it should do, the matter will be attended to before the Minister of Finance and myself leave New Zealand. I have my Own opinion as well as other members. The House

should realise that Ministers have a very hard row to hoe. We have had exceedingly difficult duties to perform. I have never had such a hard time in my life as since the last session. We have had tremendous responsibilities and a tremendous amount of work to do. Instead of being threatened and bullied, we should have the assistance of members. (Hear, hear,) Dark Days, "I can (ell the House that we are not sure to go to London even now. Nobody knows what is going to happen during the next ten days." Mr. Wilford: Hear, hear. Nobody knows what the next live days will bring. s Mr. Massey: Yes, the next five days. Our going depends on what happens during the next few days. It may be impossible' for us to leave New Zealand. It may be unnecessary for us to leave New Zealand, though Heaven forbid that anything of the kind I have in mind should happen. Promise from Mr, Wilford, The Hon. T. M. Wilford said that last session he had done as much as any other private member of the House for tlio Second Division League. He knew the needs of the married men and their dependants. He had received representations from the Second Division League almost weekly since ho had been a Minister. "I have not altered my opinion in regard to the Second Division," added Mr. Wilford. "My determination to see justice done to the men is as strong as it was then. Cabinet is looking into this matter, and things are going to be done." Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East) said that it was idle to say that there was no dissatisfaction with the administration of the Financial Assistance Board. There was intense dissatisfaction, and a real need for a thorough overhaul. An Appeal to Reason. After the discussion had continued for an hour, Sir John Findlay made an appeal to the House to lie reasonable. Ho asked the House to see comprehensively why Parliament had been assembled. The reason was simply to make it possible for Ministers to go to Britain, and not to discuss such matters as had been before the House. If there had been no extraordinary session these matters could not have been discussed until July. Parliament would meet again late in September or early in October, and these discussions could well bo deferred until that session, only a month or two later than they would have occurred in the ordinary course of the business of Parliament. The Empire was now in a terrible crisis. "Koine is burning," he said, "and our first purpose is to try to stem the firo;*

Three clauses were passed at 2 p.m., after the luncheon adjournment.