PARLIAMENTARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1915, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association; Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2,30 p.m., when further leave of absence for three weeks, oq account of illness, was granted Hob, J. A. Millar. •Si)'. P. 11. D, Bell made a short state- * ment referring to the formation of the National Government, and detailed tho alterations in portfolios and the additions made to the Cabinet. He said that when lie addressed the Council on August 4 he had fio doubt his own resignation would have been accepted, and member* must have gathered, from his remarks that he expected Mb place would shortly be vacant. It was, however, thought by the leaders convenient and desirable that he should retain a place in the Council, fend accepted the portfolio of Immigration in the Cabinet. He felt sure meaibers of the Council would appreciate the steps taken to form a national Government, and members of both nidea would give the Government every confidence until they had shown they did not deserve that confidence. Hon. J. T. Paul desired to know what arrangements had been made in regard to the Legislative Council Aot, as various rumors were current. He would strongly oppose any proposal to repeal the JLct or retard its operation. The Council should be told fully what the position was. ! Sir P. H. D. Bell said it would be quite out of place to make any statement of policy before a statement was made eLiewhere; life was, therefore, unable to answer the question. The Council then adjourned until Tuet-' , day. v HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE NATIONAL CABINET. Mr. Massey made a brief statement 1 referring to the National Cabinet. Ho said that after a number of conference. l ) -j it v.a? dfecided that party warfare should bo suspended, and it had beeii riMOlved . that party bickering and wrangling should cGase. He was sure (hat the country would appreciate the patriotism and sacrifice made, and the country approved of the change. A National Government did not indicate that party principles would disappear, but that members of the New Zealand Parliament were Imperialists first and party politicians afterwards. Sir Joseph Ward hoped that the National Government would do good work during the period of the war. Ho l'ecogr nit.ed that the men on both sides had sunk their aspirations, in order to assist tho Government in a time of trouble, 1 ai'd lie expressed his appreciation of tho -. way tlio Hon. R. H. Rhodes had carried out ilia dutibs. He (Sir Joseph Ward) t was indebted to his party for tho support given to the proposal; sonic had foregone personal ambitions in their desire to help the movement. Both leaders had a very difficult position to fill, and he wished to point out that neither of the parties was making any sacrifice of I political principles. Mr. Wilford wished tho National Cabinet well, and said it was a grand thing that the efforts of members were now diverted from service of party to service of State. Hon. R. H. Rhodes thanked the leaders for their kir.illv references to his retirement, He had forwarded his resignation as a matter of duty to the, country in a time of trial.

KAPiLY CLOSING. When tile House met at 7.30 p.m., .the Georgettl Trust Estate Bitt was lead a second time, and a number of petitions praying l that, hotel bars be closed ut li p.m. until the close of the war were presented. QUESTIONS. , Replying to questions, 'Ministers said that information a.s to wheat stocks nil hand would be laid on the tiblc to-mor-row; that every effort is being made to supply information as to sick and wounded irt the various hospitals in Egypt, Malta, anil at Home; that net niuch , information is available as to prisoners of war at Constantinople; that as few of the sick and" wounded as possible would be kept in Egypt during the hot months of the year, men be ing forwardc.l to Malta or England, while returning transports would Wing as many as possible to New Zealand; that the report of the Education Boundaries Commission was now in the printers' hands; that tbo kits and personal belongings of deceased soldiers were forwarded by transports returning to Kev; Zealand.