PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 52, 1 July 1915, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Pes Prkr* Association. , Wellington, June 30. The House of Representative* met u 2.30 p.m. The Premier gave notice that next sitting day be would move that Mr Malcolm be Chairman of Committees. In reply to Mr C. H. Poole, the Minister for Defence said his attention had been drawn to certain statements made in the Auckland press by a Trentham soldier, regarding the conditions at.the Trentham camp. He questioned whether the Trentham soldier made the statement referred to, which were full of gross inaccuracies. It was a vile attack upon the Defence Department. To-morrow he would make a full reply to the various attacks made on the Department. The Minister for Public Health said patients were being provided for in an adequate way., and will be so provided for in future. In reply to Mr (i. W. Russell, the Minister for Defence said he did not regard the sickness at Trentham as abnormal. Sir Joseph Ward stated that he had been invited by the Premier to confer on the subject of a national Cabinet, and he would do so to-morrow. The Cook Islands Bill was read a second time pro forma. The Minister for Finance moved the second reading of the Public Revenues Amendment Bill. He explained it was the Loan Bill. It also contained certain amendments to the law rendered necessary by the special circumstances arising out of the war. Explaining the details of the war expenditure, the Minister said that authority last year amounted to £2,000,000, and up to March 31 last the expenditure had been at the rate of £350,000 per month, and the total amount spent had been £2,300,000. Since then tne expenditure had been at the or about £320,000. This had been found to be insufficient, and an increase of some £15,000 per month would have to be faced. The total amount required up to the end of June next would be £7,050,000. To this, has to be added the sum of £BOO,OOO to redeem the reserve fund securities, so that the total amount asked for to June next would be £7,850,000. Perhaps less than £lO,000,000 would have sufficed, but he deemed it better to have something in hand, and he thought it wise to ask the House to vote a larger amount. It it is not required, it would not be used. The loan has no reference to the Public Works Fund, but if necessary sums could be transferred from time to time. Another loan would be raised for Publio Works purposes . On the question of the cost of the loan, the Minister explained that it would be part of the great Imperial loan, and [would be raised at the same rate. The amount was large, but he did not think that it was larger than the country could raise at this time. He felt convinced that the House would be prepared to vote the last penny in the country for the purpose of helping to terminate the war. Sir Joseph Ward said he was not going to oppose the Bill, but lie, felt compelled to say that £10,000,000 was too much to ask for at the present time. It was at least a million more than wag required. It would be better to call Parliament together again to provide for requirements as they arise. The Minister, in reply, defended the introduction of the loan in the Public Revenues Bill. That course had been followed last year, and there was then no criticism of the method employed. He had no intention of using any part of the loan for public works. It was for war purposes, and would be uned for that alone. The Bill was then read a second time. The Minister tor Finance moved the second reading of the Public Expenditure Validation Bill, explaining it validated payments for wheat and meat out of the unauthorised fund. The Bill was read a second time. On the motion of the Hon. A. L. Herdman, the War Regulations Amendment Bill was read a second time. The House went into committee on the Public Revenues Bill, which was passed without amendment. On the third reading, the Minister, in reply to Sir Joseph Ward, said that he had deliberately advised the people of this country not' to remit their money to London to participate in the British loan. He thought it was wise to keep our money in the country. The Bill was then read a third tim*, and passed. The Public Expenditure Validation Bill and the War Regulations Amendment Hill were put through tho final stages and passed. The House rose at 5.20 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.