PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1915, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

legislative council. . N ellington, Last Night. J lie Legislative Council met at 2.30 .p.m « message from -the House of K.'jncsfntativos was read agreeing to the amendment to the Statutes Compilation Bill. tts (om The following Kills were read a secoiul tmu : —K" (, "i v Contracts Hill, Local Authorities Kmpoweriug Bill, Arbitration Amendment Jiill, NW Zealand Society 01 Accountants Bill. The Km.my Contracts Hill was con* Mdered :n committee, reported without anxyidinent, and passed. 1 iic- Uuncil adjourned at 3 p.m for the presentation of the Speaker to the Oovoruor. i; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES^ A KUDfiET 01' QUESTIONS. £

Tim House met nt 2.;i0 p.m., when the Attorney .(lonerul gave notice of intention to introduce next Bitting dav the War Kuihlh Bill; ~ In reply to Kir J. G, Ward, Hon. H.]£ Hlioiles -aid lie lmd to a conference with the !Xew Zealand branch of the. British -Medical Association, with a view to organising the medical services of tho i )omiiiioii.

J« reply to Mr. L. M. Isitt, the Prime Minister said the (lovernment had not overlooked the (juration of reducing the jwiifber of racing and trotting meetings in tlie Dominion during the present crisis.

in reply to Mr. A. M. Myers, who drew attention to the .statement that New. Zealanders were enlisting in Australia, the M.nit-.ter of Defence said that he believed ;>ien were going to Australia to enlist, but the jirocess thcrfc was different to our method in New Zealand. A number of New Zealanders had gone to Australia who had been invalided from Egypt through their own fault, and lie would not re-enlist them. In reply to Mr. 0. W. Russell the Minister 01 Defence said he had »o intention to establish camps in the South Island.

In i! ply to Sir .J. (i. Word, the Prime | Minister said arrangements would be I made, to assist persons who wished to place complaints before the Royal Cominivnion that is to inquire into Trentham Camp matters. | In reply to Mr. C. H. Poole, the Minj later of Health said facilities were provided to enable parents to visit their sons in camp hospitals. In reply to Air. J. Payne, the Minister of Defence explained that returning troopers by the Willoehra will be received at the Town Hull on Thursday* Thoco who may be too ill to attend the gathering at ' the liaJl would be despndied to their homes by special trains, or by steamers. Only "the next-of-kin would V- flowed on the steamer. In reply to Mr. li. 'W. Russell, who characterised Trentham as a W'everjitrioken bole," Hon. Jaraes Allen said there were MOO men still at Trentham, and that not a case of sickness had been re|K)itcd during the last three or four dava.

In reply to Sir .1. 0. Ward, the Min- | ister of Defence said the Department I Was continuing the allotment money of men reported missing to their successors, if they were entitled under the Defends Act, 19Cfl. That was all the law allow i;d them to do. In reply to Jlr. iO. Harris, the Prime Minister said that many misleading statement* had been made regarding Rattgiotu Camp. The site was one of the best sites he hud seen, an adequate water supplv being laid on from an excellent artesian well in the vicinity. 1 n reply to Mr. T. 'Wilford, the Minister of Defence said an extra" shilling per day separation allowance was being paid to wives of soldiers from Ist June last. If jpayment had not been made ho would inquire into the particular cases; In reply to Mr. P. Webb, the .Minister of Defence said there was nothing to prevent soldier# at Trentham from communicating with members of Parliament, but he strongly deprecated interference by members be,tw«:t» men and their oflicers.

The following Bill* were road a fire! time: —lndustrial Unions and Trade Unions Enabling Bill (Mr. J. McCombs), Unregistered Nurses Bill (Mr. J. Payne), Factories Act Amendment Bill (Mr. Payne), Gas Supply Control Bill (Jir. J* Payne). ||

Notice was received from the Legislative Council that it had passed thai Enemy Contracts Bill without amende incnt. I

A debate, which lasted till the dinnel adjournment, took place on the Miniac ter laying on the table a memorandums from the Chief of Staff on the provision of reinforcement drafts for the Newi Zealand expeditionary forces. Mr. <3. W. RiiHsrll severely commented 011 the Minister's statement that 'New Zealandi ri enlisting in Australia had been rejected here because they had been in* valided home owing to their own ftinlb The Minister, in reply, assured the illoiiM! that his remarks only applied to. a lew men.

When the House resumed at 7.30 p.mi the Kipiry Laws Continuance Bill, Ex* peditioimry Forces Bill, and amendments to the War Pensions Bill were introduced hy Governor's Message and read a first time. *

The House went into committee oO tho 'War Pensions Bill, Mr. Hanan* speaking on the title of the Bill, suggested that a totally disabled soldieC should receive, two pounds per week. (.•the speakers all favored an increase upon Z5». Hon. Jamcrt Allen said he had agree? to submit, a second schedule to the De* feme Committee, lie hoped a good deal might be done to teach the disabled men to help themselves. An actuarial examination showed that on an enlistment of .vtf.OOO men it might lie expected thati the |ieusion money required for one year would amount to £-t4I>,(KKI: that would be for mm-eonimissioiicd officers and men only* and did not include officers.

The debate was continued by 'Mcssi'3 MrUnmld. Walker. llcCombs, l!onte:i, Marnier, I'oolc, Parr, Jennings,) .Smith, Ngata, Dickson (Chalniers)i (V.-i-ie, Russell, Dr. MeNtib, and Hint* The Minister agreed to refer hot.li schedules to the committee, and tho short title passed at 11.45 p.m. j