PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 270, 19 August 1915, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

OPENS TO-DAY. THE NATIONAL CABINET OCCUPIES GOVERNMENT BENCHES. Parliament will resume work to-day after the adjournment made necessary by the formation of the National Ministry. The House of Representatives will meet at 7.30 p.m.,when the National Ministry will occupy tide Treasury benches for the first time. Local bills Avill be the business of the evening, and it is anticipated that no important j business will be taken until next week, I though some of the Government’s important bills are understood to be practically ready. The Budget will not i appear befor e Tuesday next at the * earnest, The bill providing for the prepara-

tion of a liCoister \viu maae ..o aj-jjcn.t.oiw 0.l an eany crate, No . suoivugg of ivci uilo is being oXptiitnoeu ju, i.nu iilo i' i'iliiti xvLii.SLfcr the J-Vliniofei lor Defencg have bocn »uacu ciiat they uo not expect any ati.uUj u.ilicu.uy In securing the necoSoury uunitiCi oi recruit*. iiut uie requirenienig ox lno next xcvv months In uus respect win be very heavy, aim tue Ministers Avaut to. secure as quickly as possible precise information regarding th e numaer of men available for military service, ana their condition with regard to dependants ana emp.oym.ent_ Th e information is needed, too, in connection with the work that the Minister for Munitions and Supplies has to undertake, Th e report of th e Trentham Camp Commistiou is expected to be in the hands of the Defence Minister by the end of inis week, though the Commissicaers have secured a fortnight’s extension of time as from Monday. The report will be laid upon the table in , th e House of Representatives, and it is understood that'th e Government intends to provide an opportunity for its full discussion. The Defence Minister himself has something to say with.

regard to th© criticism that has been levelled against the camp, and many other members of the House would like to state their opinions possibly from another point of view. The formation of the National Ministry is not expected to stay debate regarding the camp.

PORTFOLIOS RE-ARRANGED,

SIR FRANCIS BELL TAKES A DEPARTMENT.

MR HERDMAN IN CHARGE OF RETURNED SOLDIERS. Some rearrangement of portfolios has taken plac e in connection with the National Cabinet. Sir Francis Bell, who was originally a member of the Cabinet without portfolio, has taken charge of the Immigration Department by arrangement wtih the Hon J. A. Hanan, who wishes to devote all his time to the important Department of Education. The Hon. Dr McNab (Minister for Justice), as already indicated, has taken control of the Prisons Department, the Hon. A. L. Herdman (Attorney-General) remaining responsible for the Police Department.

The most important change is the creation of a new portfolio to be held by th e Hon. A. L. Herdman, who is to have charge of the arrangements in connection with returned soldiers.. His responsibility will begin when men are 'given their discharges on account of wounds or illness, or wfhen they complete their period of service. Mr Herdman will arrange for the return of the men to civilian occupation, and he will try to place some of them on land which the Government proposed to provide for the purpose.