PARLIAMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLII, Issue 90, 19 May 1916, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. JTKSDAY, MAY 16. WELLINGTON, May 10. The House, met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. Keph'ii'g to questions without notice, Ministers said that the interests of soljjer-, m (Town leases would be conserved, that provision would bo made if necessary to maintain the electoral privilege »t returned soldiers, that there were no Germans in the Civil Service, that every care was being taken to safeguard the interests of the country 'i n regard to Germans, and that the financial Statement would be brought down without delay. A DDI! KSS-LN -REPLY. Mr J- C. Thomson (Wallace) resumed ii"' debate on the Address-in-Kcply. He'erring to unitary matters, lie said that allowances to wives and dependent* compared unfavorably with Canada and South Africa. He could not see that the National Government was practising economy if the Public Works Department reduced the number of men. Theiv should be equality of sacrifice. He louiul that expenditure had been shut Wf in one Southern elector-, ate but work wa s still go : ng on on a district railway in the Prime Minister's electorate. The priming-knife should be applied without discrimination. Mr ('•■ Witty (Uiccarton) favored local borrowing. Ho complained that the Government had failed- to reduce the tost of living. He held that if local camps had been provided compulsion would not have been necessary. KVKNTXG SITTING. ! Mr Witty, continu'ng after dinner, said that a tax of u per cent, shi.u'd have been imposed on woo], meat, butter and elieese. He thought that every man who left for the front should bo insured bv the Government for £IOO. Mr ('. K. Statham (Duned'n Central) favored an Empire system of national compulsory service by which every man between the ages of 20 and 45 years should '»■ liable for service if rcqu red. He supported the proposal for loc-d camps. Dr. H. T. J. Thaeker (Christehurcli East) asked for a greater display of confidence in members of the House by the Government. Mr T. A. H. Field (Nelson) condemned the quality of the food supplied on returning transports. Mr (.'. J. Talbot (Temuka) said that while the voluntary system of onli-t----ment was lair, compulsion appeared to be necessary, and with that there must lie a heavier conscription of wealth. The House adjourned at 11,20 p.m.