PARLIAMENTARY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 28 September 1915, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NEW BILLS

BY TBUBQBAPH— PRKBS ASSOCIATION.

m ■ ■. WELLINGTON, Sept. 27. When the .douse met at 7.30 p.m., the^rollowmg Bills were introduced and read a first time: Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claim Adjustment, West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment, Gaming Amendment, Auctioneers Amendment, Prisons Amendment, Prisoners' Detention, Dairy Industry Amendment, Coalmines Amendment, Miners Phthisis Bill, and Railways Authorisation Bill.

TRENTHAM COMMISSION REPORT

The Hon. Jas. Allen moved that the report of the Trentham CoiiiinLnnon oe> laid on ttte tablfe and referred to the (government for consideraMon. Dr. H. J. Thacker contended t! at the hndings of the Commission t-ad not been labelled on to the proper shoulders; :ilso that Cabinet had chosen its own jury with the result that the ye? diet was "not proven." Referring to the Minister of Defence, Dr. Thacker contended that Mr Allen had been overweighted with three such large portfolios as those of Finance, Defence and Education, and the medical side of the camp's equipment had been neglected. He maintained that weak spots still existed in the camp. He considered the complaints against Dr. Purdy unfair. Discussing the Pensions Board, he suggested the appointment of an experienced woman who would prove very helpful. Dr. Newman said that mistakes were still being made at Trentham. The curse uf the camp was delay; nothing was done in time, and the men were still in want of baths. The recommendations of Surgeon-General Henderson had not yet been given effect to. The men were too crowded, and there was too mr.ch dust. He was afraid they would have all kinds of summer diseases unless Surgeon-General Henderson's suggested reforms were carried out. He also urged Ministers to keep a watchful eve on Samoa. Mr T. M. Wilford said he had determined not to refer to past mistakes, but to demand that any recommendations made by Surgeon-General Henderson shall be carried out. They would tolerate no more of what he termed the "cigarette" policy, under which men for Samoa had to pay duty on cigarettes and tobacco which had never paid duty. Mr C. H. Poole said he did not desire to embarrass the Government with any hostile criticism in view of what had had been don©. He recognised that many improvements had been effected, and he hoped there would be no further cause for complaints.

Mr C. Parr defended the personnel of the Commission, which he considered a very strong one. He could only i-egard the report as an official record of blunders at Trentham, of muddling and ineptitude, but deprecated any flogging of a dead' horse. He did not think the Minister would flout the recommendations of Surgeon-General Hamilton.

Mr T. A. Field (Nelson), commented on the fact of new troops being introduced to Trentham while disease was already there. He considered that dependents of men who lost their lives at Trentham were entitled to receive every consideration.

Hon. Jas. Allen, in reply, defended the members of toe Commission, which had not been appointed in a hurry, but after conference"with the leader of the Opposition. He was sorry that a man1 from the Royal Army Corps had not been appointed at first, but the question of expense had to be considered. He considered that training men for difficulties they would meet in warfare was necessary, and he would hold himself criminally responsible- if men were not inured in camp somewhat to the hardship? they would encounter on a battlefield.

Dr Thacker: They don't want mollycoddling. Hon. Jas. Allen acknowledged the valuable work performed by Dr Yalintine in connection with the camp. Hot baths were ordered at the beginning of the camp.

Dv Newman: Then why are they not read"?

Tho. Minister: Because other more important work had to be clone. Continuing. Mr Allen said he had now receive! a report that they would he ready this week. There was a difference of opinion about, the lining of the huts, hut m any case more necessary work had to be carried out. As to the Samoan troops, the lenorts were that the /fiien were in first-rate health. Regarding the ri-^t evil, this was not an unknown difficulty in camps. He Quoted from the report to show that due attention had been given to the sanitation at the camp. He intended to m-onose an amendment in the Defence Act risking provision for dependents cf those wh"o had died in, the training- car^ps. He said that the Fourth anrl Fifth Reinforcements had been «o well trained before they left the Dominion that~ they had gone ■straight to Gallrwli from "Egypt. The motion was carried/"and the House adjourned.