PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 94, 21 August 1915, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

house of representatives.

Wellington, August ,20

In the House yesterday, replying to questions, Ministers said that the matter of raffles and art unions for

patriotic pm poses was now receiving consideration; legislation to reduce cost of living would be introduced this session; every effort is being made to secure accurate information concerning the sick and wounded a the front, and also to make postal arrangements as effective as possible. NEW BILLS. The Tramways Amendment Bill was read a lirsf time. It was explained that the Bill was intended to remedy a technical defeat having reference to the Auckland tramways. The Bdl was treated as a matter of urgency, and passed all stages. Mr J. Bayne, by leave, introduced the Sanitation of Theatres Bill, explaining that the Bill intended to provide for adequate disinfecting of continuous picture theatres. The Greymouth Native Reserve Bill (Hon, W. H. Merries) was read a first time. EXPEDITIONARY FORCES BILL. On the motion to go into committee on the Expeditionary Forces Bill, Hon. Jas Allen explained that the provisions were mainly technical. Ho said the country owed a debt of giatitude to those officers and non-commissioned officers who had trained the men who had gone to the front. He was sure the country had reason to be satisfied with the work done by the forces, and considered that the reinforcements showed no sign of deteriorating. With a wider experience in training the men were improving. He maintained that the policy which had been pursued with regard to the forces in the past had been justified. Ho hoped it would not bo necessary to take the platform to secure recruits, but that the men would come forward as a duty, and the Dominion thus be able to carry out its pledges. The' debate was continued by Messrs McCombs, Wilford, Payne, Vpitch, McCallum, Webb, Witty, and Field (Nelson). The Minister replied and the House went into committee.

When the House resumed in the evening, discussion took place upon several clauses, but these were eventually passed with one or tw T o slight amendments.

A new clause was added, providing that on the death of a member of a force, to whom any sum of money not exceeding £IOO may be payable, such sum of money is to be paid to the legal representative, without probate or letters of administration. The Bill was reported to the House, read a third time, and passed. NATIONAL REGISTRATION. The Bill to provide for a register of New Zealand manhood for various purposes, directly or indirectly related to the war, is practically ready for Parliament. The Prime Minister said to-day that one estimate given to him is that for the registration the procedure is in the simplest possible form, and may require only a month, by tho aid of the Postal Departmnt. A complete report in that time would be very smart work, but the probability is that more time will be needed. The subject of women was mentioned to Mr Massey, and he remarked that the additional work would cause delay. There was not the same urgency for registration of women, at this stage, in New Zealand, where the conditions and circumstances were different from those of the Mother Country. However, Mr Massey did not profess to bo saying to-day the last word on this question which he admitted was open to argument.