PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 59, 9 July 1915, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. PER I'itKSß Association. Wellington. July 8. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. I Dr. Thackev gave notice of hi* intention to iiiti'inhii.e the Military Camp* Bill. j Kir Joseph Ward said it had be«" rumored that horses at Trentham camp were suffering from strangles and mud fever. He desired to know if the Government had received any • report on the subject. j The Hon. James Allen said uo such report had been received. The horses were all in exceedingly good condition. Sir Joseph Ward said he also de sired to ask the Government-whether tin its opinion it was desirable to have another c/amp apart from Trentham, There was considerable anxiety .shout the state of the health of the men in camp. His opinion was that the camp should be shifted, and there should be a camp for both islands.

i The Hon. James Allen contended that TrenthaiM was perfectly healthy, and that everything that could be done was being done to check the epidemic.

. Sir Joseph Ward asked why voluntary contributions which had been made towards a hospital at Trentham had not been expended, and why a hospital had not been established ?

j The Hon. James Allen replied that the contract for building a hospital had been let, and should have been 'finished on June 27. It had not been 'finished by the contractor, who was being fined for every day the building 'remained uncompleted. He was makling inuiry whether it would not be 'advisable to take the work out of the contractor's hands.

| Mr Massey, speaking on the subject of the Trentham camp, said that I anxiety was well known to exist, but" it wa s no doubt due to the spread of disease, but when honorable members 'talked of shifting the camp they did 'not appear to take into consideration jail the work that had been clone there, i Trent hum was considered to be a heal!thy spot. It has six feet of gravelly soil, making it particularly adaptable | for drainage. It had been recomIniended and adopted as a camp site •many years ago, and ho objections had boon raised during all that time. Other sites would require to be road'ed and drained. There were man} 'excellent buildings there, and he was informed that electric light was about .to be installed. As to mud. it was impossible to avoid it. It had no doubt contributed to the spread of disease, but he was glad to say that it jwas rapidly disappearing. The first, consideration, however, was the health of the men,. An inquiry would shortly lie held by a Royal Commission, land another inquiry was being held ito-day to decide whether Trentham should be retained as the site of the 'camp. If it was found desirble. to shift the camp, that would be. done at the earliest moment, irrespective of cost. With regard to the Royal Commission, the order of reference would be,made as wide as possible. One of |the matters to be inquired into would be the best means of preserving the health of the men in the damp, as well as the origin of the, present epidemic. The inquiry would' be open to the press. THti HOSPITAL SHIP.

I Dr .Thacker asked upon what terms the hospital ship Maheno had been acquired. The Hon. James Allen said that the ship had been hired from the Union Co. on very favorable terms. Mr Young asked if there was any truth in the rumor about town that a member of Parliament had that morning cut open some bedding on the jhospital ship? J There were cries for the name of the honorable member, and, after a little interruption. Dr. Thacker admitted that during his Inspection of the equipment of the ship he had opened a pillow and mattress with the object of ascertaining if the feathers and hair had been sterilised. He had secured a sample for that purpose. He maintained that he was perfectly justified in doing so in order to see that troops were having that measure of protection which they deserved.

GENEHAL M ATTERS

A member asked if sick soldiers were allowed to communicate with their friends. The Hon. 11. H. Rhodes (Said that soldiers suffering from infectious disease were not allowed to send letters to friends, but he had arranged that a man should specially be charged with the work of writing such communications.

In reply to a question, the Prime Minister said he would bo willing to give members a further opportunity of discussing the reports of the Foodstuffs Commission if so desired. The Moa County Hill was introduced by Mr Hine, am] was read a first time.

The War Pensions Hill and the Hutt Road Bill were introduced by message, and were rend a first time. Tho Hon. James Allen moved the second reading of the Education Amendment Bill, explaining that th* measure was intended to remedy a technical error in the Ac! of 191 I, by which the time For the election of parents of pupils to governing bodies could be extended From July to August of this year.

The Bill •>•••> P"t though all its stages withoul debate. 'Hie House went into committee oil the Local Authorities Empowering Bill. , „ In reply to Mr Hanatt. the Hon. \ L Herdman said he could not occep t but amendments empowering

local authorities to embark, on wider municipal enterprise than at present permitted l»v th« Mmuc.pal Corpoations Act. The Bill priHWd all *> amendment, and passed The House adjourned at 4.4.) p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.

WAR PENSIONS BILL

The'" War Pension* Bill introduced vesterdav is a measure of tw<mty ; two ;., iinse s 'and deals with the pWlhlon ol oeusioUß for members oi the ex- f peditionary forces and then- ■dcp.nlenis. The scale on winch pensions re to he payable is set forth m the hedule to the Bill. The pcn«on. S, to be paid from the consolidate fimdi alld the right to « pen«an m L W ct of the death of n «*her death occurs within seven ye,us t the rPP eipt of a wound or injury, 01 the oom ™encement of the provided that the death is due to the • opWn ol wound, injury or disease. A Wa °r Pensions Board will be appointed t 0 lix the rates of pensions and amongst other matters, to ak mto consideration any evidence that may the part of the soldier dunng ftw P tiod«t service. The W o the vife a nd children to a pension ae to have precedence over tne claim of an> other dependent. Where a wife o children a re entitled to a amon „t paid to any other depondent must , not exceed three-iburths«h J•■ pension/prescribed for a -de, and Uere/no wife or children. ar* : .sq entitled/the amount paid: to •«*/«*}£ de peXnt must not exceed the amount of the pension prescribed fo awiie . A .pension to the wife oh de ceased- member of- the forces & ..ease upon her remarriage, but in that case she may receive a gratuity Lt exceeding two years pensmn- A' orphan child may be pan! double the X ordinarily prescribed for a child. A boy will cease to draw a pensions the age of sixteen years, but a gir s ".sicm may be continued until the JL of seventeen years is attained. A Pension payable to any child suflron, mental or .bodily infirmity may he continued inVTefiniteiy at the discretion of the Board. Pensions av „ he payable as from the date o death or from the date of discharge 1 case of disablement, a r pension i 9 to he absolutely inalienable, but it mav be suspended or withdrnwn by the board if the pensioner is convw-eu It auv offence punishable by imprison-ment-for three months or upends al ,d dishonoring him in the estimation. Persons who «*J" 1 "* n j making false representations m connection with claims or pensions are to' be, Uabje to. a hue of WS ™ Pensions a.; not to be payable except t p persons resident in New ZealamL The maximum rate payable to the iaow 0 f a private is'£l ; s* weekly, with 5s weekly,for each child The rates rise with the rank to £3 os weeklv for the widow of a major, general, the rate for children remaining the same throughout. The rates in case of disablement are :' For a private £1 os, with 12s 6d for a wife and 5« for each child, up to a maximum of £3 weekly, with other rates in tlie proportion indicated in the vase of death, as set out in the schedule of the Bill.