Parliament

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1915, Page 4

Parliament

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. STEAMERS FOR HOilL TRAOJO. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.311 p.m. The Prime Minister, in reply to Sir .Joseph Ward, wiio suggested that the (,'nveniment should arrange for one or mure steamers to carry grain from the Jilull' to Sydney and Melbourne, said that he would be glad to look into the matter. ~ Incidentally, the Premier mentioned that ;tli vessels were available for shipment of produce Home during the next four months. These vesselsNvoufd lift about three million carcases. BETTER THAN OTHER DOMINIONS. In reply to Mr. 0. W. Russell, the Minister of Defence stated that he received no such cable as was said to have come to Australia asking for every available man witli or without equipment. On the subject of New Zealand's sharo of men sent to the war, he did not wish to make comparisons with Australia and Canada, or anywhere else, but ho could give the House the assurance that we. stood out miles ahead of any other part of the Empire, both in men sent, and men in training. Till: TRKNTHAM CAMP. Mr. AH™ made his promised statement in defence of the management of affairs at Treiithain camp in reply to a letter appearing in the Auckland press, said to have been written by a- soldier, in which he alleged there were COO cases of measles in Wellington Hospital. The Minister stated there were only 309 eases. Twelve were at the racecourse, 10.") at Kaiwarra, 21 at Bcrhampore, 12 in the Wellington Hospital, 39 at Mr. Izard's house. Of these only seven were bad cases, and live of these were in the Wellington Hospital and two at the racecourse. The official answers to various other allegations were read and Mr. Allen proceeded to detail the accommodation provided for men as follows: Men's huts.—Completed "30, housing 100 men each ; five under construction, eleven yet to be built. Officers' Huts.—Fourteen have been completed, 251 tents have been floored, while 218 have yet to be so furnished. There are ten medical officers in the camp, while five more ara to come in. There arc 72 medical orderlies and 42 are to come. In addition, tlie staff of the medical ship have been ill attendance ,ujion the sick. The distribution of these orderlies was as follows: Sick parade and dressing 10; racecourse 55 and five nurses, while four are yet to come in; at Herctaunga one orderly; Kawarra 15 orderlies, no nurses being required, there being no serious at Berhamporo three orderlies and the nurses at Mr. Izard's house; three orderlies at Mrs. Duthie's house, and one nurse. A complete system of drainage hud been prepared for the camp by Captain Jickell. Dr. Morice had been appointed to an important office in the cam]), while Dr. Stout had been there sonic time. These facts were a complete answer to the allegations*made u the Auckland letter. Sir Joseph Ward suggested that tttt opportunity be given for discussing tha state of affairs at Trentham and theMinister's report thereon. The Prime Minister said ho did not wish to prevent discussion. He wail prepared to appoint a Royal Commission or a Parliamentary Committee to consider the matter and report. Hearsay statements could not be accepted. Evidence must be from experts. He was quite prepared to see that the blame, if any, should be placed on the right shoulders. Dr. Tlmeker asked the Minister of l'nblic Health if the Bcrhampore fever* Hospital was the only available place for just measles cases in that institute. Yesterday he had seen two men suffering from acute septic pneumonia. Mr. Rhodes replied that he had had nothing to do with the matter until a few days ago. TRADK WITH THE ENEMY. The Hon. A. L. Herdman moved the second reading of the Trading with the Enemy Amendment Bill, which he explained was primarily intended to extend for a further period the existing Act which expired at the end of. this year. Mr. T. Wilford welcomed the Bill, but thought it should go further. A firm should be regarded as German when a majority of the shareholders were (iermans or are resident in Germany and in all eases the declaration of origin should accompany goods. Mr. Veitch complained that German pipes were being used by the Telegraph Department in connection with the telephone extension at Wanganui, where steel pipes were being manufactured by New Zealand workmen. He asked the Minister to say whether there was anything in the run;sT that the duty was to be taken off these Herman pipes, as local industry could not be carried on if the duty was taken off. The Premier said there was no intention to reniove the duty. The Postmaster-General denied that the pipes were German. They were made by a British firm, who were contractors to the British Navy. Mr. Wilford pointed out that the capital of the company was held in Germany. The Minister, in reply, said ample provision was being taken to trace the origin of goods coming through neutral countries. The Government was gradually winding up the Continental Tyre Company and the monies were being paid into the Public Trust Office with a view to paving fliem into the British Empire at (lie end of the war. The Bill was read a second time. ' OTHER MATTERS. The Premier stated that <jcxt sitting day it was his intention to set up a committee to which would bo referred all matters relating to the sick at Trentham. 'I lie Premier moved the second reading of (he Regulation of Trade and Commerce Amendment Bill, which, he explained, proposed to extend the original Act to August 1, litlO. It was also pro-po>-i d (o extend the powers of the Government in prohibiting the importation of German made goods and in commandeering ships if necessary. Sir .Joseph Ward supported the lliil, which was read < second time. The Statutes Compilation Amendment Bill and the Enemy Contracts Bill were, on the motion of the lion. A. L. ller.lninn. read a second time without debate. The Mouse rose at 5.5 p.m. till 2..J0 p.m. on Tuesday.