PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 69, 21 July 1915, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Per PiiV.m Association. Wellington, July 20.

When the House met this afternoon, in reply to Sir J. G. Ward, who drew attention to the cases of two trOOJeffc who had returned by tlio WViioehara. and whose parents had been notified of their for their home* the Minister ;,f defence said the trouble was Vnn't some of the men had travell'Ui north, not by the hospital train, [ju( by a train of their own selection. jit was difficult to keep trace of the movements of these men. So far as 'the Southern men were concerned, some had gone'home by otber steamers. He only regretted now that he had not insisted upon every man going home bv the Wilioclua.

In reply to Mr G. W. Russell, the Minister said he had no knowledge of any ease of men returning from leave and their being told they could not be received into camp. There must be a misunderstanding if such cases existed, and lie asked to be supplied with the names of men. and he would make Inquiry. In reply to Mr J. Colvin, the Minister said that in sending wounded men. home by steamer medical officers were instructed to grant first-class or steerage pensions at their direction. These instructions applied to West Coast ports just as to other ports. Tn reply to Sir J. G. Ward, the Minister of Defence said that he was inquiring from the Imperial authorities regarding the supply of winter clothing to our troops at the Dardanelles.

In reply to Sir J. C .Ward, the Minister of Railways said that refunds would be granted to parents who travelled to Wellington to meet the Willochra, if they could satisfy the Department that they came bona-fide to meet a wounded son returning by that stea-

In reply to Dr. A. K. Newman, the Prime Minister said that he believed wounded N!ew Zealanders were now being sent to England, rather than to Egypt. He quite endorsed tfhe suggestion, i Sir J. G. Ward asked the Minister whether sick leave could be given to men who Were recovering from influenza. The Minister said that this was entirely a matter for the medical men. Mr G, Witty asked the Minister to instruct officials to see that more care was exercised in the drill notices issued to Territorials. A man who joined the Main Expeditionary Force was killed at the Dardanelles, and despite the fact that the officials had been informed of his death these notices were still being sent, and his parents had been much hurt by the notifications. The Minister said he would have the matter inquired into. NEW BILLS. The Shops and Offices Amendment Bill (Mr A. M. Myers) was introduced and read a first time. The Church Property Amendment Bill was received irorn the Legislative Council and read a first time. WAR PENSIONS BILL.

Tlie Prime Minister brought up the report of tiie Secret Defence Committee, which recommended that the War Pensions Bill be allowed to proceed, with such amendments as were made in clauses an<] the second schedule. The principal amendment was that of increasing the pension for disablement from twenty-live shillings, per week to thirty-five shillings, and making a slight increase in the. total maximum aggregate for all classes.

Mr J. A. Hanan said that he personally regretted the committee had not seen its way to give disabled men £2 per week. We were not giving as much as Canada.

Hon. A. T. Ngata asked the House to see that widows of Maori soldiers were not disqualified from receiving pensions because they had been married under the native custom. Messrs L. M. Isitt, .t. McCombs, H. Poland, T. M. Wilford. YV .T. Jennings, A. E. Clover, and YV. Veitch all urged more generous treatment of the pensions question. In the evening, after Mr A. K, Clover had advocated that the Bill be referred back to the Committee for more favorable consideration, Hon. .7ns. Allen said that the increase made by the Committee would amount to between £200,000 and £250.000 per year. Every totally disabled and every partially disabled man would have his pension increased ten shillings per week. ft might be that in the course of two years the Dominion would have to meet one million pounds per year for pensions. He could not institute a scheme which would stand the test of time. Members must remember that money had to be found for the future development of the country. In Canada the pension proposed was C 79 for married men. and Co2 for single men : in Britain it was £<>•"> for both married and single. In New Zealand a man and wile would receive L' 12'i 10s. which compared very favorably with other countries. He favored trusting the Board, which he believed would be sympathetic. Mr ,1. T. M. Hornsby moved As an amendment that the Bill be referred back to the Committee for further |consideration, on the ground that the proposed pension was inadequate and insufficient in the circumstances. The amendment was ruled out, ol order, as it is not competent to move that, a Governor's message be referred back.

Mr G. Witty said he was disappointed that the Committee had not recommended a minimum of £2 per week For total disablement.

Mr M. Hotelier said he would like to see a pension of 50s per week. .Mr l{. Wright supported tlie schedule, iis iimended hv the Committee.;

the pension could be increased latei on it considered necessary.

Mr A. M. Myers urged that tlie proposals of the Committee went as lar as prudence suggested. Hon. A. I-. Herdinan argued that history showed that there was always a falling-off in trade alter » war. and if Xew Zealand had to face financial dislocation later on the men who 'ow advocated a heavy pension liability would be ready to blame the Government for giving further than was wisp. The debate was continued by Dr. Thacker. Messrs "Walker. Field. (Nelson). Brown, Wilkinson. Ell, Parr.. Hindmarsh. Payne and Talbot. Sir J. (;. Ward defended the report of the Committee, which had been arrived at as a resuit of minute investigation of intricate matters. He declined to be forced by anyone from consideration of the seriousness ol his own responsibility. The men on the Committee ware just as inclined to go as Far as ayone else in the sum of the pension. • | After Mr Isitt bad spoken in favor of an increase in the pension, Mr Massey said that all members of the Secret Committee were just as anxious to do full justice to the soldiers as anyone else in that House. It was quite im- : possible to say when the war would end, and what liie pensions would cost.} The fear was that if a depression came after the war the burden of the pension might be more than the people could carry. Dr. McXnh said he was still of opinion that it was desirable to postpone the (innl settlement until it was definitely known what amount would have to be provided when the full pressure was exerted on behalf of all the wounded in the war. No Government could hope to live if I hey refused to do full; justice. ;The debate was closed to consider the schedule, and the Bill was passed with amendments made bv the Minis-

ter. The House went into committee at 1.30 a.m.. , ~,,., PROVISION FOR SPECIAL CASES. Wellington, July LM. During the discussion in committee on the Pensions Hill, Mr Ell urged the Minister to reinstate a proviso making provision for an attendant upon a totally disabled man.

The Minister promised, if the proviso was deleted, he would bring down a new clause providing for a small amount in special cases.

A now clause was added making special [provisions to apply in i h-> case of members officially reported missing. The schedules passed, and the Hill was reported a* amended. The House adjourned at 2 a.in.