NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 243, 3 July 1915, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

ARBITRATION COURT. AN INCREASE OF WAGES. TIPPING ABOLISHED. WELLINGTON, This Day. In iihe dispute between the Cooks' and Stewards' Union and the Union Company, the Arbitration Court made an award abolishing tipping, and wages of Ist class stewards to be increased from £f> 10s a month to £B, and second class from £4 to £5 10s. AFFAIRS AT THE NTH AM. ALARMIST REPORTS REFUTED. MR ALLEN'S EFFECTIVE REPLY. WELLINGTON, July 1.

In the llous e of Representatives tonight the Hon. Jas. Allen mad e his promised statement in defence of the management of affairs at the Trentham camp, in reply to a letter appearing in the Auckland press. He said that letter had been written by a soldier, who therctin alleged that there were 609 cases of measles in the Wellington Hospital. The Minister stated there were only 300 cases —12were at the racecourse, 195 at Kaiwarra, 21 at Berhampore, 41 -in Wellington Hospital, and 39 at Mr Izard's house. Of these only seven were bad cases, five of these were in the Wellington Hospital, and two at the racecourse.

Official answers to the various allegations were read, and Mr Allen proceeded to derail the accommodation provided for the men as follows: Men's Huts: Completed, 40, housing 100 men each; five under construction; 11 yet to b e built. Officers' Huts: 14 have been completed; 251 tents have been floored, while 218 have yet. to be so furnished. here are ten medical officers in the camp, whUe five more ar 0 to corrif in. There are 72 medical orderlies and 42 art/ to come in. In addition -the staff of the medical ship have boon attending to the siclc.A complete system of drainage has been prepared for the camp by Ca.pt. Jickell, Dr Mcrice has bec-n appointed, to an \m portent cfnc e ,in the camp, while Or Stout had been there some time. These facts were a complete answer to th 0 allegations made ,in th e Auek'snd letter.

Sir Joseph Ward suggested that an

•pportnnlty be given for discussing the state of affairs at Trentham, and the Minister's report thereon. The Prime Minister said he did not wish to prevent d:iscussicn. He was prepared to appoint a Royal Commis--■icn or a Parliamentary Committee to consider th e matter and report. Hearty statements could not "Dq accepted. Tho evidence must bo from experts. r T 0 was quite prepared '.-■•• c -ee that the v >'aroe —if any—should bo nlaced on the r'sht shoulders. Dr Thackr-r ashed the Minister for °nb]ic Health if the Berua rap-ore Fever r ?ospita.l-was the cub/ available place ? or measles cases? In that institute "esterda.y ho had seen two nifn suffeTine from acute septic pneumonia. Mr Rhodes replied tibr.t h» had nothing to do with the raattre unt'l a few days ago.