SEPARATION ALLOWANCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1918, Page 7

SEPARATION ALLOWANCES.

INJUSTICES TO RE REMEDIED. FREE HOSPITAL TREATMENT FOR SOLDIERS WIVES AND CHILDREN. (By Telegraph.—Our Parliamentary Reporter). ■Wellington, April 13. The question of separation allowances came under discussion in the House 'this morning during tho committee stage of the Finance Bill. Members quoted cases of hardship from various parts of tho country. The, Defence Minister replied that ho I was prepared to consider special cases. It was impossible to frame regulations that would cover all cases. Several members protested against dependents of soldiers being presented with bills for treatment given them in the public hospitals. Mr. Russell said Cabinet had dealt with this matter some weeks ago, having agreed that the wives and children of soldiers absent On service should have free hospital treatment. Instructions had been, sent to every hospital board In New Zealand to give ths free treatment and charge the cost to the government.

In the course of further discussion, members pressed for an opportunity to discuss allowances, and a threat from Dr. Thacker to secure this discission by obstruction brought Mr. Massev to his feet. "The members of the Cabinet have just as much sympathy for the men who are fighting for us and their dependents as ordinary members of Parliament ,bave," he said. ''More, in fact, but we do not advertise it That has been proved bv the statement made by the Minister for Public Health. We have done our duty properly. lam not going to commit Cabinet to anything, but we have every possible sympathy with the dependents of the men who are lighting for us. -\Ve are willing and anxious to do justice to the men and their dependents and if the Financial Assistance Board has been acting in a parsimonious measure, Ministers will do their best to have the matter put right." Dr. Thacker: "That is a fair promise."

Mr Massev: It would have been done in any case. If there )JIS been any cheeseparing policy it will be put right The House cdrfhild realise that Ministers have a very hard row to lioe. We have had tremendous responsibilities and a tremendous amount of work to do. Instead of being threatened and bullied, we ?hould have the assistance of members. (Hear, hear) We ask for sympathy and assistance in these difficult times, I can tell the Uou c e that we are not sure to go to London even now. Nobody knows what is going to happen during Lhe next ten days '' Mr. Wiiford: Hear, hear. Nobody knows what the next live days will bring.

Air. Massev: Yes, the next five days. Our (('oinpvlcpcnds on what happens during Ihe next few days. It may be impossible for us to leave New Zealand, tho.ugh Heaven forbid that any thinof the kind should happen.

Mr. "NVilford said that last session l>c had done as much as any other private member of the House for the Second Division League. "I have not altered my opinion in regarj to tlso Second Division. My determination to see jii .- ti-e done to the men is as strong as it was then. Cabinet is looking into'this matter and things are going to be done/' After the discussion had proceeded for an hour Sir ,T. Findlay made an appeal to tlie House to he reasonable. The Empire was faced with a terrible crisis, and the. matter nnd'u- discussion could wait until the second session. "Tleme in litiTninpr/* ho paid, "and our fir-1, duly is to try to stem the fire, \ohodv could tell how Xew Zealand finance would stand in a few months' time, perhaps in a much shorter time The first duty was to honor the obligations already entered into- Before Parliament met, again the crisis would have passed, and members would [.-now what the country could do. If .things went badly in the present crisis New Zealand's plight would be parlous." Tfo would, advise member? to exercise patience vhile the Empire was on the brink of a precipice. The discussion was allowed to lapse.