PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 36, 17 May 1916, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

house of representatives, replys to questions. Per Press Association. Wellington, May 1(5. The House met at 2.00. In replying to questions without notice. Ministers said that the interests of soldiers in Crown leases that were reproductive would be conserved; that p-onsion would be made, if necessary, to maintain the electoral privileges of returned soldiers; that there were no Germans in the Civil Service, and every care was being taken.to safeguard the interests of the country in regard to Germans: that the Financial Statement would be brought down without delay. ADDRESS-SN-REPLY DEBATE. Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) resumed the debate on the Address -ia-Rcply. Referring to military matters, he said there was dissatisfaction at camp prices, and a serious riot had taken place at Featherston. (Hon. Jas. Allen: “Not a serious riot”). Why did not the Government take over the canteens and prevent the exploitation of soldiers. Mr Thomson also complained of irregularities in postage addressed to soldiers at the front. He said that he knew of a case in which a. returned soldier was rejected in favor of a civilian. He strongly urged that the settlement* of F-enmore inn should be investigated by public inquiry. He said that the allowances to wives and dependents compared unfavorably with those of Canada and South Africa. If the public works were, reduced there should be equality of sacrifice. He had found that expenditure had been shut off in one Southern electorate, but work was still going on on a district railway in the Premier’s electorate. The pruning knife should be applied without discrimination. If expenditure of public works was to be reduced there should be corresponding decrease in the expenses of departments. The Government was not practicing economy, and as much waste as ever was going on. Ho urged that the'Government had not shown a hold policy, but bad taken the line of least resisance. Ho asserted that the GovcxluneV.fi could have provided .for, the present scarcity of freightage., by the purchase of ships, twelve months ago. MV G. Witty dlicFaetbu) v -fayih.Hkl John I borrowing,! ,iHe Complained that the Government had failed to reduce In- costfTol*OUSa&Cifetid field that if ! .-wa Ica nips' had; been provided compulsion would not have been 1 necessary. He ; adversely Criticised the Government in the treatment of the military matters. He. also argued that a tax of five per cent, should have been imposed on wool, meat, butter and cheese. Every man who left for the front should -he' inffnf-ed bV-lhl Government for £IOO. " '

Mr C'. 'K? -Btat|ikxn {Dunedin ’ Central), thought that some of the prevdou'?,, speakers, featl.been .uni^ggaa&lP in their criticism. He did not think tlie Government ajpvo but tliat criticism should be helpful and npt carping in character. He favored raising a local if possible, amt also a taxation, on pvaj- profits, but did not agree with . .tlj.e, elimination of voluntary, effort. He favored an Empire system of national compulsory service whereby every man between the ages of 20 and -15 should be liable for service, if required. Dr. H. J. Thacker (Christchurch East), asked for a greater display of confidence in members of the House hy the Government. He appealed for the most generous treatment of soldiers and wives and dependent of those who had fallen. He favored local camps. Mr T. A. Field (Nelson,),,, condemned the quality of food supplied on the returning transports, and argued in favour of the Government nationalising monopolies that were used in exploiting the public. Citizen soldiers should he treated in the same generous spirit that they had shown in enlisting. Mr Talbot said that while the voluntary system of enlisting was ideal compulsion happened to he necessary, and with that there must he heavier conscription of wealth. The House adjourned at 11.20 p.m.