PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 33, 13 May 1916, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE. Per Press Association, Wellington, May 12. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr T. M. Wilford resumed the debate on the Address-in-Roply. Ho Held that'the effect of the war would he to consolidate the British Empire. lie claimed that the only sacrifices made had been by those who had to face the increased cost of living, and he held that for months past the voluntary system of enlistment had failed. Men who had enlisted under threats of the Ministers to bring in conscription could |not be said to have enrolled on the voluntary system, and he hoped that the Compulsory Service Bill would be a strong measure, emanating fioni a 'strong Government. He held that the I compulsory system was the only democratic system possible in a country that earnestly desired a change. He [condemnccl the “business as usual” 'policy. Business could not possibly be as usual. He commented upon tbe extreme profits being made cut of the. war, and urged that wooden companies should be treated as munition works’and taken over by the Government.

Mr Wilford charged '.be Government with indifference m regard to the imlu supply of Wellington, where people had to pay 4s 3d for what could bo obtained for KJd north of Featherstou and Wanganui. He asked the Premier to give members full opportunity for discussing the increase in the cost of living, so that something might be evolved which would assist the con-

sumer. Mr Wilford urged that most generous treatment should be given to the men who had gone to the front, and also for those who had returned. He claimed that it was not desirable to have a colonel of volunteers as a Minister, as the civilian equation of mind was lost in the military spirit. He considered that national banking was necessary in financial matters. He asked the Government to take members into thpir confidence, and said that t| very critical time would wapproach wli,cn peace terms were being discussed. . That would bo the time to havje millions in reserve, so that the British terms could be enforced. Mr J. V. Brown (Napier) claimed that tlie cost of war pension,s should, be paid by the wealthy, not by fhd poor. Ho asserted that Ger Man influences were at work in the House,, and even in the Ministry, ancT ; tli;r : t the attitude of the (rOverninont -in dealing with Germans was not calculated to encourage recruiting. He criticised the manner in which the Medical Board and (ho Defence Department had d,,alt with returned soldiers who were not physically fit to resume the duties they were performing prior to, their enlist-

ment. ' r y? ' y Mr W. A. Veitch (Wanganui), com- ■ plained that the National Government had not taken members into their confidence in the matter .of. domestic, poiL tics. As to military matters, he urged that the. Minister of Defence had a'ciwcl' as a wet blanket, and had been passed as & complete failure. He '.thought Parliament should encourage co-oper-ative movement amongst the people cn the Dominion, and remarked that producers wore being exploited by Dio shipping combines. He attributed the increase in the cost of living to <ommercial comhinataions, and he comjplained that returned soldiers m his [district had been sadly neglected. The Minister was out of touch with public 'opinion, and had not retained the con'dence of the people. Mr Veitch condemned the voluntary system of enlistment as inequitable. Proceeding after the dinner adjournment, Mr Veitch said that he could

assure the Government that any equitable system of compulsion would have his hearty support. He considered that Labor had less to fear from compulsion than any other section of the community. He favored conscription of. wealth, and did not consider the rich men had done as much as they should have done. Hi; strongly believed in taxation of war profits. Mr J. An stay (Waitaki) held the view that Parliament must begin to

prepare for the soldiers who would return from the war. \\'l):!<' he believed that conscr<ption was wrong, eircumstances see mod to make it necessary that compulsion should be adopted; but conscription of wealth should go hand in hand with conscription of men, and a commencement should be made with the war profits. Mr Anstey referred at. length to lands set apart for returned soldiers in the South Island, and asserted that an inferior class of lands was being reserved for that puhpose, while the best portions were open to ballot by those who stayed at home. Mr J. 11. Hine (Stratfoi d), who appeared in uniform, said that the country had no reason to doubt the loyalty of any officer who was with the expeditionary forces. He believed that the very best efforts were made by the Defence Department to send men away well trained and equipped. He. considered that the railway men had disgraced themselves by demanding an increase of wages at the present time. They should in loyalty have offered to take less. He thought the Government should provide institutions where the returned soldiers might be taught occupations suitable to them. Mr W. T. Jennings (Taumarunni) thought that generous amendments oi the Pensions Act were necessary. Dealing with the allocation of Crown Lands, he asserted that considerable aggregation was being perpetrated.