STOP PRESS ITEMS

Evening Star, Issue 16912, 9 December 1918, Page 8

STOP PRESS ITEMS

,o ..A /rfc*,.. 'JS.

THIS DAY’S PARLIAMENT,

(Per United Press Association.)

LEG 1 SLAT.I.VE COUXOIL,

The Legislative Council met at 10.30 a.m. The Local Bills passed by the House on Saturday night were put through nil stages.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at nomi. The Prime Minister, in reply to a question, said he had not yet received any reply to his enquiries regarding representation of the Polynesian race at the Peace Conference. He was in a position to say that the greatest difficulty had been experienced in arranging the representation of all parts of the British Empire, and he thought that the most that could be done would be provided in the representation of the Polynesian race at the peace celebrations. Replying to Mr Reed, the Prime Minister said he did not think there was much, wire in the hands of the war authorities that would bo suitable for export to the Dominion. Replying to Mr M'Callmn, the Defence Minister said he did not think there would°be much use sotting up a committee to inquire into the circumstances attending the epidemic on board the troopship that carried the 40th Reinforcements. In reply to Mr Poole, the Hon T. M. \\ morel said the epidemic was raging at Tahiti, and shipping with that island had been suspended. At .Samoa Ultra was a great- scarcity of condensed milk, and a need for doctors and nurses. These were available, but there was a difficulty in getting a steamer away to convey them. If the Talune could he manned she would be despatched. . . , ••• Replying to Mr Parr, *ir James Allen further said tliat with regard to bringin" back the Expeditionary Force it bad been arranged to evacuate all the sick and wounded during the armistice, ami ho hoped to have back in \ew Zealand between 8,000 and 9,000 men by the end of March. That would clear all the hospitals in England. Fit men would probably not be moved till peaco was signed. There were a tew essential men to be brought back at once, but it would probably take from 9 to 12 months to get the whole of the men home. This would be done on the principle that those who went first would be first brought back.