PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 152, 30 June 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATiV E CU UNCIL

W IIJjINGTUN, June 29 The Council met at 2.30.

Hon. Magmmty ask.eci a question as to whether the time had not arrived for the transfer of all war funds m the hands of trustees to the National War Funds Council. He also desired to know if tiie information required by the Act had been supplied to the Minister and if these tunas had been audited as required by the act. Sir Frank Bell replied: (1), No; 12), over 300 societies Had supplied the information required. About me hundred have not; (3) About 400 bal-ance-sheets have been received. A. Bill will be laid before Parliament. The Council resumed in committee consideration of the Military Service Bilk Sir Francis Bell moved the insertion of a new clause providing for attestation by members of the. Expeditionary Force. It Avas explained that the clause Avas of a machinery nature.

The clause was added to the Bill. A formal amendment was made in clause 18 and the Bill, was reported. Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Bill, The second reading was carried and the Council rose at 4.40. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON, June’: zJ.

The House met at 2.30. EARLY CLOSING OE HOTELS. STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. The chairman of the M. -to' Z. Petitions committee asked legive ror the committee to sit during thfe afternoon in order to take evidence on petitions praying for the closing of hotels at six o’clock. Permission was granted. The Premier said he understood the Government was being blamed for inaction in connection with these petitions. He would like to point out that not a single petition had reached the Government. They were addressed to the House, and, under the Standing Orders, had to go to the Petitions committee, which was now taking evidence on the prayer of the petition. ihe War Regulations Bill was being kept back by the Government to enable this committee to report on the evidence they were hearing, so the sooner they completed their investigation the better the Government would like it. In reply to Mr. Thomson, the Minister of Defence said he had no information regarding the health of the troops on the Willochra, which lefk here a month ago, nor could he understand how anyone else could have any information on the subject. _ He wa» therefore not disposed to credit any rumour that the health of the troops was bad. He strongly deprecated such rumours, and trusted thev would be taken at their tru£ value. '