111-Advised Questions

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 October 1915, Page 2

111-Advised Questions

AJJOUI' ALLEGED GEKMAAb. A strong protest wais made by tho ■Minister ui : Defence CtJio Hon. J. -Alien) in tlio House of Representatives yesterday against the making of public statements in Parliament by meniUers regarding the nationality oi persons employed in the service ot the country or in the military forces without care- uomg iiivst taken to ensure the accuracy of the allegations or .suggestions made. The matter arose out or a question put to the Minister during the afternoon sitting of the House by Mr 11. Fletcher ("Wellington Central), who asked if -\fr Allen was aware that a quartermaster at Trcntham, a man named Pi ness, was a German, whoso uncle, a prominent man of that national ity, had been interned in Sydney. Mr Allen promised to look into the matter, and referring to it in the evening he said that, as tho result of inquiries, he had found that lluess was born in Auckland, where lie was connected for some years with volunteering and with'tho territorials. His farther was born in Manchester and his mother in Wales. "1 think members should be more careful and eou.siderato ol these men, ' continued Mr Allen, "iji bringing Lsifch statements publicly before the community by making them in the House. "Wo .ire 'watching these men, and Kuess would not have been .sworn in unless ii<> wiifi citizen ol the Empire. I regre-L that anything should be attached to his name that might be detrimental to him as a soldier or m his private capacity !| a member has a suggestion of this kind to make he should communicate with me directlv.

"1 was a.sked the other day a siinilai question by l)r Tliackor, who tahled an iiKjiiiry regarding the nationality and past military career of Adjutant Flohr.

Lieut. A. A. Flohr was a lieutenant

in tlic 2nd ICiifit Lancashire Brigade of Kield Artillery from August. 1900, to •September, 1003, and -is shown in the Imperial Army list as having passed lor the rank of captain in 1002. He was lorn in England. His Father was born in Ttaly. nnd his mother was an English woman." Mr Allen concluded by reiterating his request iliat members of Parliament should approach him privately with suggestions ol the kind to wliicli he had referred.

Mr 0. J. Anderson fMataura): There would ho no advertisement if tTiey did tli at!—" Dominion.