HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 8 June 1916, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

In the? Mm, '?' Mr T. M. Wil- j ford asked 1;, wi. fca°ut fioftcey when I the payments. . the war bonus to the second! dfij.**'sion <jf the- railway service- wouM fte Minister of Railways* S3Pifci i» Q was not in a position to givef. arm iwmt'diate tepfy.-LORD-KI^C^E^.ER. The Premier moved' the foi 'owingT motion: "That the New- Zealand Hous«? of Representatives, in Barliameni assembled, deeply deplores? i&e laments i death of Field Marshal Earl Kitcuener, Secretary of State for War, while pro- ) ceedmg on the Hampshire: t» Russia at- {' the request of the Tsar oni am important military mission, and further, that ' ] £cv • use reco.l% ds its high appreciation ) ot his distinguished services to" the Em- ,/J pire as a soldier and statesman through- ' put his long and illustrious career,-; and ] further, that the House desires tos ex- \ press its profound sorrow in the great . loss which his Majesty's Government, 3 the British army and the Empire as- a ( whole'have sustained by his death" - Mr Massey said that Lord Kitchener -' fftt one of the most eminent soldiers j ] ot modern times, and it was to be re- ' fretted that he was not permitted to witness that success which must come as a result of his efforts. His name would live as long as human memory as ' - a strong man able to nil any emergency. ' He urged that this was not a time for ! repirang and regrets, but a time for • i ivise counsel and sacrifices. Every blow ' received must be returned in deadly j! earnest. . J j - ir^K J" G- Ward said the news of Lord : liitchener's death would be received with universal regret and sorrow. That ' be was one of the greatest modern soldiers would be acknowledged by every- ' ane m the Empire. His position had. : been won by his own individual efforts, : and ne had to fight for promotion in every position he had held. His powers ' or organisation were enormoas, and he bad brought to the colors nearly four millions of men, and he had brought I about unity of action on the part of Britain and her Allies. The magic of : his great name was potent throughout i the Empire, and his name would be ' enshrined m the future pages of history. Speaking personally, he could say that many of the popular impressions or L,ord Kitchener were mistaken. He was not of a , hard nature, but was a gentleman In the truest sense of the term. Mt A. H. Hindmarsh, on behalf of the Labor Party, also expressed regret at the death of a man whom he looked upon as part of the foundation of the Empire. He hoped one result of his death would be to soften the asperities of political life in New Zealand. Mr L. M. Isitt suggested that the Croverntnent consider the possibility of giving to the Motherland another Dreadnought as an answer to the death of her fallen hero. The motion was carried in silence. MILITARY SERVICE BILL. When consideration of the Military Service Bill was resumed In Clause 9, on the motion of Mr Witty, it was resolved to add "that every.man called up for service should, so far as practicable, be notified to that effect by registered letter." Clause 15 was passed. In Clause 16, providing for the punishment of deserters by imprisonment not exceeding ten years, the period was reduced, on a division, to five years, the voting being 50 to 6. On Clause 17, providing for appeal by reservists called up, Mr Payne denounced sub-section C—"that by reason of his occupation his calling up for military service is contrary to public interest," which he stated was the reason for votes in favor of the Bill being passed by branches of the Farmers' Union. He claimed there should be no exemptions. He moved the deletion of the sub-section. Mr Poole admitted that industrial interests must be protected, but he uttered a warning against the possibility of political null by wealthy people. One member described the clause as the storm centre of the Bill. Some speakers argued that the subsection would prevent equality of sacrifice, while enabling primary producers to continue making huge profits. Others argued that farmers were accepting their full share of the responsibility, and that the Appeal Board might be irelied upon to act fairly.