PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1917, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30. GOVERNMENT BUSINGS, . Mr. Massey gave notice of his inten-, tion to move' that on and after Wednesday, 20th inst., Government business take precedence for the remainder of the session. ; REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr. Wilkinson, Hon. 0, W. 'Russell said the fact of many doctors in country districts having enlisted J was creating a position which could sot be allowed to continue. He expected to be able ,to make arrangements with the British Medical Association, but, if not, a Bill was being prepared and wotild bo ready for submission to Cabinet in a few days. The British 'Medical Association desired that any conscription which might take place in thiß connection should be done by the Defence Depart? ment. He was not sure this would meet the case of civil needs, but he assured the House that the requirements of the people would have to be* met, and if this was not done in one way it would be done in another, Replying to Mr. Fletcher, the Minister for Marine said the inquiry into the loss of tho Port ICembla would be 'held on Wednesday, and the presiding magistrate would be Mr. Riddel, S.M. The nautical assessor would be Dr. MacLaurin, who was a highly scientific man. Replying to Dr. Newman, who asked if married men who had voluntarily enlisted would be treated the same as members of the Second Division, Si* James Allen stated that absolutely no difference would be made, but the concessions could not be ; made retrospective. A definite date would be fixed for the operation of the concessions, and from that date all men would be placed on the same footing. Replying to Mr. Poland, Sir James Allen said he had already stated there would be three months allowed between tha time of the ballot for the Second Division md the time of their going into camp. If possible, he would be only too delighted to allow three month? between the medical examination and the time of going into camp, but he must be guided by circumstances. Replying to Mr. Anstey, Sir Jas. Allen said the policy of the Government on the question of the "last man on the farm" was that no farm should be left without sufficient labor to keep up the productivity of the country. Military Service Boards were aware of the views of the Government, but it must be left to them. Replying to Mr. Forbes, the Premier said he was sorry to say there was no immediate prospect of the shipping trouble now affecting the mosquito fleet being overcome. The Government was taking action. Replying to Mr. Malcolm, Sir J. Allen said he could not see his way to suspend the territorial training system till after the war. If once suspsidsd, it might be difficult to resume. Hon. J. A. Hanan explained that by an oversight his name was omitted from the division list on the question of jepealing the' anti-shouting clause the previous evening. He had voted against the repeal and desired his name recorded accordingly. The Speaker ordered the amendment to be made, intimating that the figures would now be 48 against the repeal and '2l for the repeal. Replying to further questions, Ministers said: That as the question of rating Native lands is a highly contentious one, it was not proposed at present to* 1 introduce legislation dealing with the question. That tho Government hope to bring down legislation this session which will save from sacrifice the farms of men who have gone to the front. That every endeavor was being made to secure suitable lands for discharged soldiers, and all demands yere being met. That the Government is considering the advisability of' granting an increase of 2s per day to railway and other Government employees so as to allow them to live with some degree of comfort. That every effort is being made to discover the men who failed to register in the Expeditionary Force Reserve and to locate the balloted men whose cases arc still undisposed of. That tho rent received under the canteen contract is part of the regimental funds,'and is distributed by tho camp commandant to the officers commanding the companies of each reinforcement leaving New Zealand in proportion to the number of men in each unit and the length of the training period. Medical treatment is provided free to all soldiers for any trouble contracted through serving in the Expediitonary Force; if, however, sickness is tho result of their own misconduct, a hospital stoppage of 3s pgr day is made from the pay. That no person in receipt of an old age pension or an equivalent income (namely, 10i) per week lias been refused the war pension because of such income. It is tlio /invariable practice to : grant war penisions to old age pensioners who apply ifor them in respect , of deceased or disabled soils. ' THE ESTIMATES. ■ The House went into. Committee of Supply to'consider the j estimates. , Class IX—'Department of Internal Affairs ( £5T7,185) —was first taken. During the discussion several members expressed the opinion that some of the members on the staff of the High Commissioner's office had been too Ion" in London and were out of touch with" New .Zealand affairs. The staff required refreshing with men more intimately acquainted with the people and affairs, Of the Dominion. Tho class waa still under discussion when the House adjourned at 5.30. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONERS. The House resumed at 7.30. Discussing the position of the Public Service Commissioners, Hon. G. W, Rus- j sell said their term still had 3£ years to run.- | Mr. Wilford asked: Would it not be better to get an actuarial calculation made to ascertain what the remainder of the term was worth to thefo''officers' and pay them the money and let them go? Hon. G. W. Russell reiterated that in liis opinion the country would not revert to the old system of Mini'teriai control If the Commissioners were not retained, then he thought there must be a Minister of Public Service, whose duty would bo to control the serviceI CAXCER. I ' ' ' : ' On the voto for public health; "IV Newman declared our most destructive > disease was canser, and urjied the JUmw-

ter to begin « «ampakn is rid SkiDof Winion of it. ' y 54 ** Hon. (f. W. SRuasell agreed wag a terrfbla scourge, but Ij# SmR Dr. Newman to produce to fai4) fljflf Mid certain cure for the dii#M», 80 far, ha 4 defied aJI jeientifie 'Dr.; Newman said w£at waq waa a- policy that pvosd re»u)t 1)9 tU| reduction of canoer.; )$e did not hope to eradicate it completely, but rt eould fcf reduced, and, if necessary, he and other doctors would, meat the Mipiatflr ian<jj assist Mm to formulate a potter. ' The Minister gladly accepted the ijffer, fcnd that if such a policy could 'be formulated he would eee it got ft fair trial. MATERNITY HOMES. ■ On the subject of maternity wards tie Minister said the policy of the ment was to get hospital boards'in every part of the' Dominionto' estatyijh maternity wards in oonjieetion with hospitals. TJie class was passed at 10.86, after five hours' discussion. OTHER ESTIMATES. ■ >r • The Marine Department (#I}<MSW) was passed without discussion. The Tourist Department' (£4Q,floo) The question of changing the GejTwu»iand Austrian' names attached to many prominent scenic featured was raised by Hon.' Heatou Rhodes. Hon. W. D. 8. Macdonald said this matter was under consideration by the lands Department. The vote was passed, 0 s vas also a vote of £50,037 for miscellaneous setrif:#s. " v • Class XI, Defence Department {.£510,673).—Mr. Poland complained thatunembers could get no information regarding Defence estimates, but were 9Sp«ete<Lto pass them practically in tie dark. He suggested that the esttatfeij should bd, referred to some cortmitte?, Vlk<> %ulif go into them eawfuHy, and givi th% House an assurance that they were in( i order. Mr. Okey endorsed this view. It wM absurd to expect members to give such! important estimates proper considera« tion at such a late hour at night. Hi complained of the excessive travelling expenses incurred by officers who'd# not travel anywhere by train if they could get a motor car. Officers' rates of pay were also altogether out of proportion to the pay given to the meij. The Minister, in reply, said the Da • fence Department invited the closest criticism of its accounts, and he was pre* pared to lay on the table a return she vf* ing expenditure up to the end of June, He was not responsible for the tha£ there was no public accounts committee set up to,, which the estimates could bo, referred. "> The Defence vote was passed after brief discussion. The Customs vote (£83,049) waaalsji i passed. i~ The House rose at 12.15 a.BS ! 1