PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 155, 30 June 1917, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. Friday. RACK FROM THE TRENCHES. Captain Downic Stewart, member for Dunedin West, who is still suffering from the effect of wounds, was warmly welcomed back to his place in the House by the Premier to-day. Mr. Massey stated that he had heard many things redound- i ing to the honour and credit of Captain Stewart when in England, and trusted j he would quickly recover his health He was the first of the New Zealand legislators to go to the front, and expressed the hope that others would return safe and well. Captain Stewart, who had to be assisted to his feet, received some- | thing in the nature of an ovation upon I briefly thanking the Premier and his I fellow members. ' WAITING FOR REPORTS. j Sir John Findlay desired to know of | the Minister in Charge of the National ; Efficiency Board whether the Govern-] ment lias received reports from that j Board, and whether those reports will j be laid on the table of the House before i the Addressin-Reply debate is com- i menced. j Sir -lames Allen replied that a number of reports had been received. Some were 1 in the printer's hands, but he doubted j if they would be presented before the : Addressin-Reply, nor had Cabinet derided whether they be laid on the table of the House. J EARLY CLOSING. \ Further petitions, with nearly 22,000 ; signatures, in favour of ti o'clock closing of hotel bars, were presented to Parliament, making tiO.OUO to date. LATE TRAINS. AN" IMPREST GROWL ( irrumstances necc.-sitated quick pace in dealing with the Imprest Supply Bill . in the House to-day. But Dr. Thacker would not allow the opportunity to pass i without a brief growl at the Railway I Department's unsatisfactory curtailment of the suburban train services. He dedared that the National Efficiency Board favoured a late train from Lyttelton in - the interests of national efficiency. Mr. Boole supported the protest, as \ the absence of the late trains on suburban lines resulted in depreciated value of workmen's homes, besides causing a tremendous amount of inconvenience. Some workers would have to lose their employment through the changed service, and consequently could not keep up their obligations in respect of the Gov-I eminent loans. Mr. Isitt remarked that he would be ! quite content if the Government would listen to the representations from Christ church commercial men. WAR REGULATIONS CRITICISED. Mr. Vigor Brown asked the Premier whether, in view of undue restrictions placed by the War Regilations upon legitimate freedom of speech, as onposed to disloyal sentiments, and in view id' the further fact that the Regulations had not received the sanction of this House, a day be set apart for the discussion of the War Regulations. TT WAS EXCUSABLE BUSINESS. When leave of absence was being given in the House to-day. Mr. Fletcher, with some show of amusement, blended with apology, moved for one week's leave of absence for Mr. P. (.. Webb, member for Grey, on account, as he phrased it. of inexcusable absence. The Rt. Hon. Mr Massey. in a surprised tone, asked what was the excuse. Mr. Fletcher laughingly repeated it. and the motion was carried without discussion. Mr. Speaker first asking how many days. Mr. Fletcher replied "seven, but a frivolous member suggested three months. PARLIAMENTARY HAPPY FAMILY. A little tilt at the suggestion of party politics, which cannot be kept out of the House of Representatives, was under; taken by Dr. Thacker to-day. when ho asked the Premier to consider equality of representation for Liberals on the Committee of the House in place of the. majority for Reform, with Reform chairmen. " I want." concluded Dr. Thacker, '• this House to he a National one.'' Mr. Massey said that most people were under the impression that there wpre two political sides in the House, but they were all one happy family. Dr. Thacker: That is not so. Mr. Vigor Brown (addressing the Premier): I beg your pardon. The Premier: I am sorry to learn that there are any unhappy persons in the House. (Laughter.) IMPERIAL TOriCS. LEADERS' EARLY STATEMENT. CONGRATULATIONS ON THEIR RETURN. (By Telegraph --Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. Friday. Before the House proceeded to consider I the Imprest Hill to-day. Sir .las. Allen j extended a welcome home and congratulation- in Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, "ii behalf of members. He pointe.l (out that it was; only members of the Cabinet who had lieen carrying on the work in their absence who knew how valuable had been their presence in England. During the last eight months important questions regarding shipping, produce, finance, and other matters had been favourably settled for this country, which could not possibly have been done except for the presence of the two Ministers there. (Hear, hear.) It had also been a great relief to have the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward in Britain to visit our men in the trenches and hospitals, and be able to return with word that the men were being treated well and were doing their duty to the country and King. Again, only those who have been in the inner working of the Cabinet could appreciate the great value of the Finance Minister's work at Dome in settlement of many difficult financial questions. Far greater than that, however, in importance to other questions was the presence in London of our Ministers at the time when the Imperial Conference and War Council met. and theii partici- • pation in the deliberations of those bodies was a precedent which would lead to future development, giving our statesmen a position which they had never held in the past. Henceforth we should doubtless be consulted in all issues of vital importance to New Zealand. He believed that as a result of tbe conference we. should become more united with the Motherland in our common interests. (Loud applause, i

Mr. T. M. "Wilford added congratulations upon the leaders' return and the importance of their work in EnglanJ, where, for the first time in the history of the Empire the self-governing colonies

•were admitted to the counsels, not as I poor relations, but as partners. Mr. Massey. in thanking the House, I said he and his colleague had no idea that their absence would extend to ten months, but the unexpected happened. They were privileged and honoured far beyond the ordinary in being called on to take part in the Imperial War Conference. The Finance Minister and himself wouJd lay before members on Tuesday all information possible regarding the business transacted on bohalf of the people of this country during their absence. If members had any suggestions to make he and his colleague would be ! pleased to hear them. He know these questions were far beyond all party considerations—(hear, he'arl—and he hoped so far as Imperial matters wore concerned until the war came to an end they -would not find party interests Incoming prominent in Parliament. He felt very sensible of the feeling so well | expressed, and hoped the session would | result iii good work, not only on -behalf |of New Zealand, but the 1-jiipire as a whole. Sir Joseph Ward also expressed acI knowie-dgments, adding that wherever he i and Mr. Massey saw New Zealandens. in I hospital, the trenches, or civil life, they I were without exception anxious to maintain the fair fame ami name of this | country. It ivas a matter for congratu- , lation— indec.l it was surprising—to find how widespread were the sentiments of the people for the brave New ZeaJlanders. A number of men who got lea\e jfrom the trenches met Mr. Massey and himself behind the firing line, but nobodywould tell from their conversation that ■rhey had just ri-.-ked their lives. They »vere full of courage and anxiety to Ido their part, and the House would find j the traditions created by the war would ;be banded on by them, and posterity would have reason to lie proud of them. He recognised that the Acting-Premier and his colleagues who remained in New Zealand had difficult problems to solve. while he and the Premier did their utmost for New Zealand in England. It was a source of great pleasure to put foot on New Zealand soil, though he noticed an inspired suggestion in a Southern paper that he was not likely to return. "None of us." added Sir Joseph, i "know what the future has in store for : us. but 1 am not going to leave New Zealand without giving my friends—and [doubtless my enemies—timely warning, so that I may receive the high"encomiums iof those who wish to throw bpravs mv ■ way." (Laughter.) Sir Joseph 'Ward added that he agreed with Mr. Massev in Imping the House would rise above party considerations, with the object of NewZealand doing its share to help in winning the war. The struggle was terrific. and the consequences of failure too appalling for us In consider for a moment. Thus it was our liounden duty to set I aside personal aspirations, so as to blend j the combined efforts to ensure the stability of the British Empire and the future prognvs of New Zealand.