PENSIONS & ALLOWANCES

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 74, 25 September 1917, Page 3

PENSIONS & ALLOWANCES

"ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE."

When questions were being discussed in the House of Representatives last night, Mr. Wilford said he had been told that members would be given an opportunity of discussing questions, and that there would be a good deal said in regard to the Second Division. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey said there was to be a Round Table Conference.

A member : Why were we not told about that last week?

Mr. Massey : Cabinet had not decided last sitting day whether it should be gone on with, and what form it would take. It was considered during the week-end. The Round the Table Conference will take place at 7.30 to-morrow (Tuesday) evening. It will take something of the form of a Secret Session. The galleries will be cleared, and the reporters will not be present. No notes will be taken by the Hansard reporters. Each speaker will be limited to ten minutes. We want a full expression of opinion on the subject of the proposals to be put forward by the Finance Minister to-morrow evening, and I hope that the discussion that will take place will enable ua to arrive at a proper solution of the difficulty, and that the Bill will go on the Statute Book more readily than would otherwise be the case.

Hon. D. Buddo : What are other countries doing in regard to married men and their dependents? Will the Minister give the House the information,'so that we may have something to go upon ?

Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence) : I shall be prepared to give as full information as members may require, as far as I am able to give it.

Mr. Wilford : Doea the Minister of Defence propose to bring his Bill down to-morrow afternoon ?

Sir James Allen

Mr. Wilford : I take it we will have the Government proposals at 7.30 tomorrow night, so as to start the discussion. I take it that we will have the Government proposals. Will they be in the form of a Bill?

Sir J. Allen : No, they won't be in the form of a Bill.