PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1918, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

Legislative council

By sTclegraph. —Press . Associate { Wellington, Nov. V.. The Legislative' Couucil met- at 2.30.

Reference was made to tlio death of' itho late Mr A..H. Ifindmarsh.

Sir Francis Bell said the new Speaker \rould be presented to the GovernorGeneral to-morrow.

The Council adjourned till '11.30 a.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

QUESTIONS. The llouso met at 2.30. Replying to Mr Jennings, Mr Massey said the question of granting an amnesty to all .political prisoners was under consideration by Cabinet. Replying to Dr. Newman. Sir James illen said that every precaution was being taken to prevent the spreading of influenza amongst the soldiers in the camps. T'hey had been quarantined, and no soldier was allowed out of camp who should 2iot be allowed ont. Regarding the demobilisation of the soldiers, he was only too anxious for demobilisation to take place at the earliest possible moment, and somo of the men were being given leave, but he asked members not to forget that peace was not yet eigned.

In reply to several other questions regarding the spread of influenza, Sir Joseph Ward characterised as "wicked," the statement that influenza was brought to New Zealand by the steamer Niagara. Tlio epidemic was world wide, and there were 120 cases in New Zealand ten days before the "Niagara arrived, so that it was absurd to .say that it was bro"ught here by the steamer on whieli the Premier and ihimself had travelled. Mr Massey and himself told the authorities that they were perfectly williii'- to go into quarantine with the rest of tlie passengers if it were necessary. No influence was used to escape that ineonvience. Under the 'circumstances those who spread tihe rumor for political purposes that the Premier and himself were in any way responsible, were worse than the Kaiser. Mr Massey and Mr Rusell also made statements on the subject later, assuring the House that no request of any kind was received from the Premier or Minister for Financo for preferential treatment over other passengers by the Niagara. If the epidemic continued to bpread there was only one way to deal with it, namely, commandeering the entire medical service of the Dominion as, in many places, tlio Public Health Department did not know whero to turn for medical men. Hon. Herri es said the Railway Department was only too anxious to co-operate with the Public. ■ The Health Department, dealing with passengers travelling on the trains, would, if necessary, establish inhalation chambers on the Main Trunk trains for the use of passengers. The Hon. G. W. Russell at once accepted the offer. In, reply to Mr Young, the Minister also said he would issue instructions to every hospital board in the Dominion to supply medicine at cost price to sufferers who apply for it. ' Air Holland and Dr. Thnckcr suggested the House should adjourn for a fortnight to enable members to get back to their districts and organise a campaign against the epidemic. The Premier said he proposed to ask tho House to adjourn till Friday, by which time lie hoped the situation would be eased. Sir James Allen gave an emphatic denial to the rumor that the patients at Featherston camp were not being well treated. Everything possible was being done for them. Replying to Dr. Tliacker, Sir Joseph Ward said he was considering an improvement in tho communication with tho South Island. Tiis improvement would probably be made by telephone. The Premier moved the usual motion of sympathy with tho relatives o£ the late A. H . Hindmarsli (Wellington South), which was supported by Sir I Joseph Ward and others, all of whom stressed the intense honesty and patriotism of the deceased. A similar motion was passed in connection with the death of the late Andrew Rutherford, a former member for Cheviot. In moving that the House rise until 1.30 oil Tuesday as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased members, the Premier said it was impossible to adjourn for a longer period, as the leaders of the House would have to leave at an early date for the Peace Conference, and the bulk of the important business of ilio country must be transacted by them. The question of whether the House would continue sitting after they leave would be decided later. There was 310 intention to rush business through. The House rose at 4.15 till 2.30 on Tuesday.