PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1917, Page 1

PARLIAMENT

THE HOUSE. WELLINGTON, July IS. The House nick at 2.3<). R.in... Replying to Mr. It. AloCalluiu OVairau, S'r James Allen said that t)ie term of enlistment ia the Expeditionary Force was for the duration ot the pre--1 sent war with Germany, and for sis months thereafter. It might be necejs- ’ ary to extend the period for six months as-there might be some men who would not he able to return ito New Zealand within that time. Replying to Air. J. V. Brown (Napier) the Premier said that he lmcl notheard anything of the appointment on Mr. Malcolnr'Jtpss as military • censor and lie di)l not believe tlnit Air. Boss, had been so appointed. Leave of absence for-one week was granted t<> Air, P. p. Wehh(Grey). The Nelson Harbour Hoard empowering Bill (Mr. Field) was introduced and read a first time, The remainder of the afternoon sitting was taken up by members discussing tlie Ministers’ replies tp„questions answered- two weeks ago. Replying to questions Minister said that arrangements were being made by the Imperial Government for an exhaustive’ report on the mineral resources of every part of tli e Empire, New Zealand included and the organisation had already been set, up with that, object iii view, ; That tlie report of the National flfli|(Tpncy Board on the essential indus-. j tries of the Dominion would bo laid f before; Parliament. That the Imperial Government fully understand the position in New Zealand both from tlie point of view of reinforcements and food supplies. They, also know that the people ° f this Dominion could be depended upon to leave nothing undone to assist ,i n winning the war. 'The suggestion that, because America hud'come into the war as an ally and th e ' Russians under General Brussilofr were now doing well, the Jm- ; minion should relax its efforts, is not in keoping with the British Imperialism, .tic spirit of the people of New Zealand. Tha-fc the holding of annual Terntirial camps would he entirely dependent on the condiDions obtaining in the Dominion in the early part of next year It- was not considered advisable to discontinue the present parades. -That there was no lintent-ion of reducing tlie railway rates during the war.; That it is proposed to introduce legislation this session for extending censorship to picture show posters and advertisements. i... That it "was unlikely that-any revision of the Customs tariff would take place this session. • That;, a standardisation of the elas* hooks throughout the Dpnmm'on involved a change- jn the books now in use in a largo proportion of the escliools and such a step was not. regarded as desirable when economy was imperative in so many homes.

That :it was not proposed this year to ask Parliament to vote a subsidy to country libraries. , WELLINGTON, July 19. The House met «t 2.30 p.m., Replying to Air. J. Colvin the Minister of Marine sajd that his attention had been drawn to a resolution by the Westport Harbour Board protesting against tlie action of the Union Company in refusing (o carry passengers to the West Coast. Ihe Government liad no control over tbe manner in which the Union Company conducted its business, hut, he would at once bring the grievance of tbe West Coast people under the notice of the management.

Replying to Air. I’. Al. A\ iltord the Hon. W D S.MacDonald said that tlie increase ip the price of coal wfts due to a variety of causes, not least being the increases' given to miners, wharf labourers the men at the depots, and the rise in freight. He understood that there was to he ap increase of 2s per ton next month. In view of this fact he considered that the whole matter required looking into to see .who was getting the profit, if any. Replying to Mr. G. Witty the Premier said flint he had not heard the rumour to |he s effect that some of the ships promised to Nqw Zealand had been diverted by the imperial authorities, lnit lie. thought It right to toil tlie House that, the latest information was that the Imperial authorities were not particularly optimistic concern the continuance of the supply of ships. The following Rills were introduced by. Air. R. A. Wright apd read a firs! time: Borough of Tvnrori Empowering Bjll, Wellington City -trading Departments Reserves and Renewal Funds Rill, Days Bay Sanitation and Water Supply Bill. the Minister of Public Health laid on the table the annual report of the Mental Hospitals.

Following upon this Dr. H. 'J'. J. Thacker raised a debate on the t i'Catment of returned soldiers suffering from shell shock N The Minister in reply said that, every- - thing that could he done was being done by the Government to relieve the sufferings of these unfortunate men. The best medical skill urns being employed and the most modern methods were being applied. It was certainly encouraging to find that out of 10,000 men, who liad returned suffering from shell shock only 'nineteen were still suffering so severely as to require detention in mental hospitals.• . j The. debate on the Address-in -Reply wsa resumed hv Mr, McCollum, and continuer) by Messrs Scott, Witty, Stathaju, I ■ The debate was adjourned on the mo-] tjon of Air. R- R. Sykes and the House rose at 10.50 pm, !•