WAR GRATUITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1919, Page 4

WAR GRATUITIES.

THE (MVffINMENT PROPOSALS. TO BE MADE KNOWN TO-DAY. A VERBAL CONTEST. (By Wire.—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. In tha House of .Representatives today, Hon. G. W. Kussell (Avon) asked what facilities would be given for debate oil the gratuities scheme. Sir James Allen said ho would present the scheme in the form of a paper. He hoped to have the scheme, the conditions, and the form of application printed and placed in the hands of members by Friday. The proposals could bo discussed on the motion to lay the paper on the table. He would circulate the paper when he had read It to the House. Members would have an opportunity to read it. While he was making some explanatory remarks, Sir Joseph Ward suggested that after the paper had been presented there should be time for consideration before the "discussion took placet Memberß could not discußs an important scheme before they had had time to study it. Sir James'Allen: I think members will have digested it by the time I have made my remarks. It is quite simple. Sir Joseph Ward added that if the proposal took the form of a Bill the House would have a proper opportunity for discussion, but a paper was a different matter. It would be laid on the table and there would be an end to it, as far as the House was concerned.

_ I.he Delfcace Minister replied that a Bill was iut uecess.Hfv. The Government had power already to pay the gratuities by Orier-in-Council, and this order had already been prepared. Mr. Russell: Does the Government propose to ask the approval of the House of the scheme? Is it going to submit the scheme in a form in which the House will be able to accept responsibility? •Sir Joseph Ward repeated that members would not be able to understand the proposals unless time had been allowed for consideration. The House could not come to a decision on the ifinister's scheme when the sole motion was that a paper should lie on the table. The Prime Minister said the Government had no intention of taking any advantage of members. Members would be able to understand the proposals in five minutes. They could be contained in a sheet of foolscap, and were perfectly simple and straightforward. He was quite sure the leader of the Opposition would be perfectly satisfied with them. Sir Joseph Ward: That does not clear the point. Supposing we do not agree with the proposals or are in doubt about any point, how are we to show our opposition? Mr. Massey: Sav so. *

Sir Joseph Ward: Saying so is no use. We will have no effective voice. We cannot consider auch important matters while hearing them explained bv the Minister for Defence. The time will be too short. Mr. Massey: There has been quite sufficient delay in regard to this matter already. The Minister of 'Defence would have liked to present the scheme a month ago, hiit that was impossible. The sooner the matter is settled the better. I don't think it should be allowed to stand over until next sitting day, which means next week. The Hon. A. M. Myers (Auckland East): Give us some indication now of the lines of the scheme. Mr. Ma?sey: That i 3 for the Defence Minister. Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi): Will the House havo any power to alter the' proposals contained in the paper! Mr. Massey: The hon. member had better wait until the paper comes down. Mr. fj. J. Anderson (Mataura): Will the Prime Minister take into consideration a proposal to set up a committee of the House to go into the question of gratuities, so that all parties may have an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon it? Mr. Massey: That would mean further delay. T think members will find when the paper comes down that any further delay will not be necessary. The Government must take the responsibility in a matter like this, and I don't think the question should be referred to a committee.