PARLIAMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 11 July 1917, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY

Replying to Mr Lee, the Minister of Defence said the question of increasing soldiers' pensions AAas now under the consideration of the Government.

The address-in-reply debate was continued. Several of the speeches are reported under the head of Avar policy in another column.

In reference to general political matters —

Dr Newman discoursed about six o'clock closing, asking for the opinion of members; complained of no reduction in the cost of living, and of the storage of large quantities of produce, Avhile people Avere paying famine prices. Our meat Avas being manipulated by rings in the Old Country, and the only Avay to chock the operations of the meat trust Avas for the Government to take a hand in the oA-erseas trade. He made an appeal for more energetic efforts to stamp out cancer and other diseases.

Mr Poole read into the appointment of a Governor-General the suggestion that after the war there were to be certain annexations in the Pacific, and New Zealand would probably find herself mistress amongst a number of islands, such as Samoa, Fiji and others. He spoke on the same lines as Dr NeAVman on the food question, and ridiculed the clamoring of the producers in respect of the butter-fat levy. Nothing but the reduction of the cost of living Avould quiet the discontent Avhich he knew was rumbling through the social ranks. If workers are to be taken and asked to sacrifice their livos and all life is worth living for on the altar of the country, surely the producers can remain patient under such small restrictions as are now being placed upon them.

Mr J. C. Thomson and Mr Harris also took part in the debate, winch was unfinished when the House rose.