PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, 26 May 1916, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

RECEPTION OF MILITARY SERVICE BILL CALMLY RECEIVED "BY MEMBERS (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, This Day^ •On t!he whole the Military 4 e r v 'i ce Bill has been calmly received by*mem•bexs. The general principles of tlio measure having previously been known, members were prepared in a general wayi ifor the contents. What they scarcely anticipated is ■what is generally regarded as the thor-. oughnese of the Bill, in the closing oi" all possible loopholes against shirkers.' It is stated that the Bill -will probably ■be opposed' by about lialf a dozßiii members, including several, -but not all the Labour members. Mr Poole urged, during the debate last night, that the Government should take care to ensure the sa'fe housing of soldier's' record?. These records, ho said, were now being transferred to a large tip shed: near the Government "Buildings. If this shed or main buildings caught fire there would be no records left. The Hon. J. Allen replied that the" building to wbich the records were being transferred was as nearly fire proof as possible. A watchman was also kept on duty all night. WAR PENSIONS AMENDMENT BILL COMMITTEE .STAGE PASSED.

. WELLINGTON, This Day. The House"' was engaged the whole of' yesterday afternoon and for two hours last evening on the initial or short title stage of the passage through committee stage of line' War Pensions Amendment ■Bill.

When discussion, was opened there was a general chorus of approval of the Government's action in raising children's allowance frdm 5s to 7s 6d a week, but a large number of members were not satisfied and persisted in advocating that further increases should be made both in soldiers', pensions and allowances in respect to children. The asked for in regard to incapacitated soldiers ranged from £2 to £2 10s per weak, seme members even going as, high as £3 or £3 10s. It was also urged that children's allowances should be further increased, many speakers suggesting 10s at least for one or first child.

Mr Okcy said he did not think that 15s would be too much for the first child, in. view of the relatively greater; cost of maintaining one child. > Discussion on. the short title was con; ,1 , tinned by a limited number of speakers" ' " until the Prime Minister roße in protest' • ' against what he pointed but was amounting' to obstruction of the Bill. He said, that if obstruction, or protracted discus- - sion, if members "■preferred that- term, went on, there would be onlyi one course ~„ ■» adopt, viz., to ask the House to re- '' t ' port progress. He did not wish that,. . \ as he wished to pass the Bill. He gested that they shotdd pass the short •-' . titled and amend the Bill if necessary' as they went along. If the. House de- - 1 sired further time to consider the , measure he was willing ,to N postpone < jt for a month or more and go 011 with. , other business. - • . Air Mas&ey's. remarks had the desired ' effect, the short title being passed'with .-, ,; very little more discussion, after which . • - more satisfactory progress was made.' ,' , "A new clause, excluding widows're-, . ; ceiving incomes of £6OO a- year-and over '• , ; from the operation of the Act-, .was* a creed to. The Minister mpved y a new clause providing that the Board may -re- ■•' fuse to grant .» pension to an. applicant of notoriously 'bad' character. '-, Some members took .exception to this, as being too far-reaching. Mr IMassey explained that the clause was not ■' directed against soldiers, bob against certain women. He agreedVto have the amendment worded to meet the views of members. Tins was accepted; • The remainder of the Bill passed* • through committee without amendment. , The House rose at_lo.4sv " COSTOF LIVING MF.AT 'AND OOAU WELLINGTON, This o>ay. v ' Beferenees to increases in the' cost of living continue to be made. - During the- . progress of the debate on the P«mig«is J Bill last evening a 1 member described-the , , increase in the price of household coal ■ , < in Auckland as a "shame." • ;■ Mr Jennings' said that in Jsevr Ply- ( .\ mouth at present as much as 7$ 6d was ~ - being charged- for a fore quarter of mutton. ° __J___f ' v - ' '\ v