PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 223, 18 September 1915, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. (By Telegrapli.-Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. | RLTURXEU SOLDIERS. I The memhcr ,'or Wairarapa [_•■, Hornsby) asked the Minister of DefeVic. when he would authorise the .promise I inquiry into the cases of unwoumie-' men who came back from Egypt 0 a th. transport Tahiti. "I made no eueli promise," replied Uw Hon, das. Allen. "I said a report would be made on the number of men who retiinic-i iinwotitided. and I would then decide if an inquiry is necessary. TIIE AMERICAN TOURIST. As the war closed Europe to the American tourist, Mr L. M. Isitt thinks a good deal of this prjfitable traffic might be dr.:-,-.:,! to V.w Zealand by judicious activity on the Tourist Department- part. The Hon. R. MeXab replied that the Department circulated a good deal of literature about Xew Zealand in America, because it was hoped to get some of the tourist traffic from that country. However, he would look into the matter to see if more could be done. CENTRAL BOOKING OFFICES. The experiment of the Railway Department in running a ticket office in the busiest ctrcet iv Wellington has- been a success and will be exteudci, says the Hon. W. 11. Ilcrries. The Department is now looking out for a suitable office site in Christchureh and other lar"e centres. i Mr Ell urged the Minister to combine the office with the Tourist Department's office in Wellington. It was, he declared, a waste of money. This suggestion was countered by the Hon. W. H. Herries, who said the office was a great convenience, and would probably be used a good deal more in future as a receiving department for parcels and the transaction of general railway business. "A waste of money," interjected Mr Ell, to which the retort of the Minister was: "We will test your economy when you ask for the next concession." j AUCKLAXD CHILDREN'S TEETH. The resuit of an examination of school children in three Auckland schools was given to the House by Mr. Parr, -who titsed the facts in advocatting more attention to medical ex-a_iin_t;ons of the children. He stated that 75 per cent of these children hid defective teeth, and were in urgent need of dental aittontron. Unfortunately th-ey were ihe children ot working men, who could not afford » pay dentists' biMs. "I am not surprised than the children were not sent to the dentist," continued Mr. Pan, '' because it costs mc £35 to £40 per annum in dental fees for my family of four." He considered that tihe nateal development of the -Vstem of medjcal inspection woarVd be free 'medical and dental services.