FEW ZEALAND’S SHARE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17529, 12 July 1917, Page 5

FEW ZEALAND’S SHARE.

VIEWS OF MEMBERS,

, Jim M’COMBS’S AMENDMENT TO

address-in-reply.

[Pirn Pbess Association!

WELLINGTON, July 11

Tn tho House of Representatives this Evening, the debate on the Address-in-. 'Reply was continued by Mr M’Combs, Who congratulated Sir James Allen on iho high honour conferred on him by She King. Tho debate on tho prenous night was, ho said, lift- . ®d out of tho common by tho atatoment of the Minister as to tho part New Zealand was playing in the great war from Ins point of view. The ’speaker, therefore, proposed to deal with tho war • position from lus own point of view. Speaking of the nna cial aspect, ho said that New' Zealand . was the most selfish of all the overseas dominions, and he deplored the ract that Ministers had boasted when thoy returned that they had ‘bled the Olcl Country of the last shilling in increased prices for meat and butter. The part our men had played in tho grcat struggle was a less sordid theme, lie defended the voluntary system, clauniug that it fulfilled all requirements until an ambitious scheme, was conceived, giving General Godley command of a division composed entirely of New Zealanders. He denounced the methods by which tho national register was prepared, every promise connected -therewith being shamelessly broken. Having got conscription passed, promises were made to give financial aid to conscripted^men. but what was tho result? Out of 86,000 men / who had enlisted, only 1089 had beon granted aid, yet there was air oven - , greater claim for assistance to men who had no property obligations to fulfil, men whoso only stake was their life. The claims of these men to better pav and higher pensions was slowly being recognised, but recognition was being wrung from the Government only by force of public opinion. If tho voluntary system Jjad failed, it w.as because adequate provision had not boon niado for soldiers’ dependents. Men held bade not from fear of death or wounds, but because pay and pensions wore insufficient. He defended his action in endeavouring to force Parliament to increase the .pay of the. men, and declared that tho floor of the House was tho place where voluntarism could havn been saved had Parliament chosen to face its duty. Canada had not done as well as New Zealand, and did not propose to do ns much even with conscription. The question for us to consider was whether we had not rent men enough and concentrate our attention upon the production of food. To his mind the Government had gone mad on this question of reinforcements. He thought tho time had arrived when the country should know where Parliament stood on this question. To determine that point he moved an imendment, which declared that tho ' people viewed with alarm the .policy of creating new brigades out of accumulated reinforcements. Mr Walker seconded tho amendment. Sir Joseph Ward asked the House to proceed with the debate as though the amendment had not been moved. Later on a division could be taken on it. * Mr Hindmnrsli followed, and dealt with the house rent question in ‘Wellington. Passing on to matters connected with the war, lie criticised the manner in' which returned soldiers in search of land were driven from place to place. He also spoko in strong terms of tho treatment meted out to a' wounded soldier; who Was refused admission to Wellington Hospital, and on whose behalf he demanded an inquiry. Mr Payne argued that tho Dominion had sent reinforcements enough. The Minister of Defence had declared that wo must keep up to our obligations, •but, the speaker asked, who' made those obligations? Not the people, not Parliament, simply one autocrat, by whom tho Dominion was governed. With Russia back m the firing lino and America in t-lio war, there was no need to bleed this country white. Tie urged an increase in the income tax, as the fairest means of raising revenue. Ho did not press for tho retention of the excess profits tax, which he knew in many cases, operated most iniquit'ously. The adjournment of the debate was moved by Mr T. H. Field (Nelson).