PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

REPLYS TO QUESTIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House mvt at 2.80. In replying to questions without notice, Ministers said that the interests of soldiers in Crown leases that were reproductive would be cotwved; that provision would be made, if necessary, to maintain the electoral privileges of returned soldiers; that there wei'i: no Germans in the Civil Service, and every care was being taken to safeguaid the interests of the country :n regard to Germans; that the Financial Statement would be brought down without delay

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE. INDICTMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT, Mr. J. C. Thomson (Wallace) resumed the debate on thr Addreps-in-Reply. Referring to mil'tary matters, he said there was dissatisfaction at camp prices, and a serious riot had taken place at Featherston. (Hon. .las Alien: "Not a serious riot"). Why did not the Government take over the canteens and prevent the exploitation- cf soldiers. Mr. Thomson also complained of irregularities in postage addressed to soldiers at flic front. He said that he know of a case in which a returned soldier was rejected in favor of a civilian. He strongly urged that the settlement of Benmore run should be investigated by public inquiry. He said that the allowances to wives and dependents compared unfavorably with those of Canada and South Africa. If the public wo'ks wer • reduced there should be equality of sifrifice. He had found that expenditure had been shut off in one Southern electorate,, but work was still going on on a district railway in the Premier's electorete The pruning knife should be applied without discrimination. If expercliture on public works was to be readied there should be correspondin? decrease in the expenses of departments. The Government was not practicing economy, and as much waste as ever was going on. He urged that the Govcnment had not sVown a bold policy, but had taken the line of least resistance. He asserted that the Government could have provided for the present seavcity of freightage, by the purchase of ships, twelve months ago. ~~- Mr. G. Witty (Rierarton) favored local borrowing He complained that the Government had failed to reduce the cost of living, and held that if local camps had been provided compulsion would not have been necessary. He adversely criticised the Government in the treatment of the military matters. He also argued that a tax of five per cent, should have been imposed on wool, meat, buttea and cheese. Ev&y man who left for the front should be insured by the Government for £IOO. Mr. C. E. Statham (Dunedin Central), thought that some of the previous speakers 'rtid been unreasonable in their criticism. He did not think the Government above criticism, but that criticism should be helpful and not jparping in character. He favored raising a local loan, if possible, end also a taxation on war profits, but did not agree with the elimination of voluntary effort. He favored an Empire system of national compulsory service whereby every man between th<? ages of 20 and 45 should be liable for service, if required. Dr. H. J. Thicker (Chtistchurch East), asked for a greater display of confidence in members of the House by the Government. He appealed for the most generous treatment e.' soldier.' and wives and dependent of those who had fallen. He favored local camps.

Mr. T. A. Bitia (Nelfou), condemned the quality of food supplied on the returninf transports, and argued in favor of tl!b Government nationalising monopolies that were used in exploiting the public. Citinn soldiers should be treated in the same generous spirit that they had shown in enlisting. Mr. Talbot slid that while the voluntary system of enlisting was ideal compulsion happened to be necessary, and with that, there must be heavier conscription of wealth. The House adjourned at 11.20 p.m.