PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1917, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

I IT.MS Fi:o\l TJIK PRESS GALLERY. .MAORI ( (tN'TLNG ENTERS' PETITION. I lly Electric Telegraph—Special to “Star.”) WELLINGTON This pay. The Public Pel ilimis (Join in it t ii‘, reporting mi the petil ion o| Captain G ■ T. Pill, of I i»o Native Cont ingenl, who asked for a ('oniniissio'n ni Inquiry 1° report mi the termination of his :ip]miiitineii( to the New Zealand Expediiinnarv I'ni'ees, rebel's the petition I" tin' (inveniiMont for favourable coiisideration with a view el setting up a commission el' inquiry upon tin* procedure adopted in connection with tin- return of (lie petitioner to New Zealand. Tl.Ml.iKli CUTTING lIIGI ITS. Tim Ley land, OT.rieii Timber Coy., Auckland, petitioned Parliament foi a. I milter extension of their timber cutline eights on blocks in the Jairua Survey District owing to adverse circumstancces in getting timber to niibs and tlie vest rioted operations since the declaration of war. The hands Committee recommends the Government to favourably consider the request, but, recommends that the system of sale by the Crown of timber far beyond the capacity of a buyer working within a reasonable period he discont inned. NEW ZEALAND WOMEN’S WAR DUTIES.

(,'ommenting on a letter by Miss 1., limit, suggest ing tlull 1 lu'iv are many openings for New Zealand women in war-work, the Minister of .Defence states that a great many New Zealand women are employed in New Zealand military hospitals in England for other than nursing duties, but the number is not actually known. It is believed (hat there are other women employed. It, is not considered desirable to send any oilier women than army nurses abroad.

GERMAN PRISONERS’ RATIONS. In answer to Mr. J. V. Brown’s suggestion that the Government should make some attempt to reduce the cost of rations for German prisoners. Hon. Sir James Allen replied that firstclass prisoners of war are now issued

the same scale of rations as reinloiceliitiiis in camp, while second-class prisoners ut war are issued a special scale of rations, Very much less than the scale lor the reinforcements. SECOND DIVISION DTSCimn NATION. Xo discrimination will he made between the Second Division and those' who are now in the New Zealand Expend it iona rv Force. From a delinif.fi date the increases in allowances and pensions will lie General.