PARLIAMENT.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 2957, 31 May 1916, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

YFSTFRDAY'S PROCEEDINOS

.MILITARY SERVICE BILL

In the House of Beprcsentalives

Mr T. A. H. Field presented a petition signed by 3152 people from Nelson praying for 6 o'clock closing of hotels during the war. A large number of other petitions to the same effect, signed by many thousands of people, were also presented. Mr Payne i/aye notice to ask tlie Prime .Minister if he will set up a I.?oval Commission to enquire into the troopship scandal (which, it appeared, chiefly related to the cost of fitting up the ships), and if he would arrange that the proceedings he open to the press.

Notice was given by Mr Payne to ask the Prime Minister if he is aware that a petition is beimr circulated at the Bluff protesting against a ■German being put in charge of the Macquarie Islands.

In answer to Mr Sidey, the Minister of Defence assured the House that everything possible jwas being done to prevent the outbreak of any epidemic at the Featherston camp, especially cerebro-spinal meningitis. Tlie Hon. J. Allen, at 3 p.m., moved the second reading of the Military Service Bill, the only object of which, he said, was to help the Empire to I win the war. New Zealand had decided to do its full share, and so far we had been able to do so under the voluntary principle. We could ho proud of the response that bad been made, and we should place on record our recognition of the work done by men and women in that respect. He wished also to place on record his grateful thanks for the valuable work done by the headquarters and training staff, who were unable to leave for the front, where they were anxious to jio, but who were doing just'rs valuable work in New Zealand. lie also paid a high tribute to the work done by the women and the patriotic societies and the local bodies, adding that if the Government scheme of enrol I ing had been carried out we would have been in a position to bring in a system of compulsory service without any difficulty. " The Minister then proceeded to nlace on record what had been accomplished in New Zealand by voluntary effort. Tbe Dominion bad equipped and sent away 46.000 men and 351 nurses. j