PARLIAMENTARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1915, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

llOl'Sii OF RIiI'HEiSIvM'ATIVES. Wellington, Ust Night. giusrioxs. . In the House yesterday, ivplying to questionii, Ministers said that the matter of raffles and art unions for'patriotic purposes was now receiving consideration; legislation to reduce cost of living would be introduced this eession; every effort: is being made to secure accurate information concerning the sick and wounded at the front, and also to make postal arrangements as effective as possible. NEW BILLS. The Tramways Amendment Bill was read a lirst time. It was explained that the Bill was intended to remedy a technical defect having reference to the Auckland tramwajj*. The Bill was treated as a matter of urgency, and passed all stages, Mr. J, Payne, by leave, introduced the Sanitation of Theatres Bill, explaining' that the Bill was intended to provide for adequate disinfeatang of continuous picture theatres. The Grcyinouth Native Reserve Bill (Hon, W. 11. Hemes) was read a first time. EXPEDITIONARY FORCES BILL.

On a motion tc go -into committee op the Expeditionary Forces Bill, Hon. Jast I Allen explained that the piovieions were mainly technical. He said tincountry owed a debt of gratitudo to those officers and 11011-coinmißsioned officers who had trained the men who had gone to the front. He was sure the country had reason to be satisfied with the work done by the force*, and considered that tbe reinforcements showed no sign of deteriorating. With a wider experience in training the men were improving. He maintained that the policy which had been pursued with regard to the forces in the past had been justified. He hoped it would not bo necessarv to take the platform to secure recruits, but that the men would come forward as a duty, and the Dominion thus be able to carry out its pledges.

The debate was continued by Messrs McCombs, Wilford, Favne, Veitch, McCallum,, Webb, Witty, awl Field (Nelson). The Minister replied and the House went into committee. When the House resumed in the evening, discussion took place upon several clauses, but these were eventually l passed with one or two slight amendments. A now clause was added, providing that on the death of a member of a force, to whom any sum of money not exceeding £IOO may be payable, such sum of money is to be paid to the legal representative, without probate or letters of' administration. The Bill was reported to the House, read a third tice, and passed.