PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 97, 25 August 1915, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Piou Prkss Association

Wellington

August 21

When the Council met, Hon. A. T. Magiunity asked a question concerning the funds collected in numerous parts of the Dominion for patriotic purposes, and whether the Government will introduce legislation with a view

to providing for the appointment of a, hoard of trustees, to whom shall he committed the administration of such funds.

Sir F. H. D. Bel! said the question of administration of these funds was ; ,t present receiving the consideration of the Government, and lie regretted he could not give a more definite reply. The Tanranga Borough Council and Tauranga Harhor Board Bill and Whakatanc Harbor Board Empowering Hill were read a first time and referred to the Local Hills Committee. The Tramway Amendment Bill was read a. lirst time and subsequently passed through all stages. The Expeditionary Forces Bill was road a second lime and committed till to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In reply to Mr Hornsby, the Minister of Defence said he could only accept with great hesitation a report, which was said to have come from Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert, that there was almost a mutiny on hoard the transport taking the Maori contingent to Egypt, on account o( the high prices charged lor lood. .So lar as he (Mr Allen) knew, the Maoris were not charged for their food on board the transport.

Replying to -Mr field (Nelson),, the Premier said Ik? would like to take advantage of the opportunity to advise? the producers of the Dominion to produce every pound ol supplies within their power. It was their duty to do so. because if food was not required in New Zealand it would he wanted in Great Britain, where supplies must necessarily be curtailed. In reply to Mr Parr, Hon. W. D. S. McDonald said a Bill was being prepared to prevent eggs imported from America being sold as new laid eggs. In reply to Dr. ThackeV, the Minister for Defence said it was intended to recognise various branches ol the* National Reserve. In reply to the Hon. D. Buddo, the Minister for 'Defence styd he had no information regarding a disaster to the fifth reinforcements. Had such a disaster happened-: lie have heard of it. ” * The following Bi% Svere introduced hy Governor’s Message and read a first time:—Hutt Eoad Bill, Census Statistics Amendment Bill, the National Registration Bill (the latter Bill provides for registration of all men between the ages of 17 and 60). An Imprest Supply Bill, providing for an appropriation of £963,500, was introduced hy Governor’s Message.

Mr AVehb 'asked the Government .to deal with the question of miners’ disease tin’s session, and Mr Hindmarsh appealed to tho Government to bring | in legislation dealing with the cost of | living. | Mr Poland complained that relief jAgivcn to miners suffering from miners’ complaint was quite inadequate; if .'the government wanted to do the light •tiling tfiev should not only provide, nfull compensation, but they should take every step possible to safeguard the health of tho miners.

Mr AValkor protected against the of dntyJfen imported oats, when they knew the price was just double whut it/was before the outbreak of war. The Government ought to lay down , areas of land in cereal crops for tho benefit of the people, and so cheapen tho cost of living. LOYALTY OF THE IRISH. In tho House fo-day, Mr J. T. M. Hornsby said ho desired to comment upon tho cables that now came to New Zealand per medium of the f/foss Association. He "regretted that *ve had only a second-hand service. The Aii*tralian pa j tors got cables direct .from Loudon, and we’had to take ,vli.it they got. Tho second-hand cables ■ flea did not rcJlcet British opinion, as iiioy

ciimo from poisoned sources. The Times and Sydney Sun Service was the worst of all, as this class of news was prejudiced, bigoted, and was part of a political propaganda, organised for the purpose o’i misrepresenting British .Liberals, and to destroy Lord Kitchener. He desired, particularly, to refer to the false and unfair reports that were being cabled out regarding the Irish people. These were simply shameless attacks upon a nation. There might have been Irish rebels in (be past, hut ho would i>sk everyone to think upon Hie causes that had made them so. Then; might he shirk-

ers in Ireland, but there were shirker* elsewhere. Ho referred to tho achievements of Irishmen in the Peninsula' war, at Waterloo, in South Africa, and in the present war, and appealed to the National Cabinet to prevent these false and misleading cables being sent to this Dominion to the prejudice of the Irish people.

Messrs Colvin, I’nole. Dr. Thacker, and Willord delivered diluviums mi the bravery and disloyally of Irishmen. Mr Massey remarked that after what had been said regarding Irislitueii, in>. as an Irislinian. slionld put in a word for Kno|jslnii(‘ii and Scotsmen. Ho did not think it was necessary either to justify or apologise fur the Irish people, nor did he think il necessary to take the slightest notice of Hm

eaMes on this snhject. Whatever had been the case In the past, them was no doubt that Irishmen wore now absolutely united for the one object of upholding tho Empire.