PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, 6 July 1916, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

REPLIES T'o QUESTIONS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON", This (Day. lit the House of Representatives the. principal business l yesterday afternoon .was the discussion on answers to oucsf tions. , 'Mr T. A. H. Fields (Nelson) asked tihe Minister of 'De-fence—(l) Whether lie ■will take steps to arrange for better accommodation; and passages for sick and wounded soldiers sent back from England? (2) Ie there not too much difference maide "between office i's arid Soldiers -when i-eturniriig? (3) Seeing that the wounded and - do not have first, second, and third-class treatment in hospitals, why should there be such a difference as at present in what are almost hospital ships? (Note.—On the last trip of fiihe Athenic, for instance, the sick and' wounded men were given accommodation very similar to that given to tihe troops on- troopships going to the front—bunks knocked tip in tiers, the only difference being they were divided off ■with .partatiorjs. These bunks •were placed two decks 'below the main decik and' as far forward as possible. The men -had to <ro backward® and forwards the "svhole len.gtihi of the ship f'or their meals in the thirdi-olass, .which was situated rrgifcij aft.; A life-line had to be rigged nip in bid weather, and- men with cratches and' sticks had to be helped along "by their mates. On six or eight occasions at least men were drenched to the skin in getting to -their quarters and' "were often flung down—one man was severely injured from a fall. Til ere were four unfortunate men with wooden legs—three of them, after some trouble, had berths found for them in. the (third-class. The food they got was thirds-class food l . The quality, lam toM, was all' right, but badly cooked'. Several complaints were made about the food, but no notices -was* taken of tihenv. On account of this there was a slight disturbance just 'before reaching port. The officers had first-cdass accommodation, sergeants second-class, "but corporals and privates had' not even thirdclass accommodation.) t MR ALLEN'S REPLY.

The Eon. Mr Allen (Minister of Defence) replied, The position is that the High Commissioner makes arrangements as required for batches of invalided soldiers discharged* from military hospitals in England (to be returned to New Zealand- on the; first available liner. The following report lias been rendered, by Commander ■Grassland of the A'tQicnic on the issues raised on the question, and is submitted for -the information of honourable members. The report, I consider, fairly disproves any neglect in ■making due -provision- for the comfort and proper accommodation of the invalided soldiers, in question- on the part; of the High Commissioner and the ship's officers. lam forwarding a copy of the question -and the answer to the High Commissioner for his information and further repont. and' will be only too wi.;liivg ito let the •honourable member pee "(he reply when it arrives: "(1) The hundred-odd wounded and sick returned soldiers were 'berthed in the forward section of our third-class, which is situated in the fore part of the ship, and is that part of the third-class usually allotted to single male passengers. This accommodation consists of ordinary four and) six-berthed cabins with upper and lower berths and- has dining-quai'tcis attached. As these men were in every respect third<-class passengers .irraiige- ! men-ts were made for them to iness in t-hei i third-class diindng-F?.lhon aft with, their fellow-passengers, hence the trip over the decks complained of ; but this arrangement had: tihe merit. of the food being served hot, - whilst if they had messed forward! the food, must ineviVa;blv have "become cooled in transit.. {-») The accommodaJtioh 'provided w.?.® m-sn>e(-ted' and l passed by a representative of tike New Zealand High- Commissioner at Plymouth when the troops embarked a nidi two cases of men with wooden legs were transferred to the third-class afteiquantier®. (Beyond tihis, -three more -cases wibicli 'I considered should have been miade hospital cases were transferred to the ship'® hospital aft. The ship _ no weather .bad enougli to necessitate life-lines, but these were provided 'by me as a necessary precaution considering _t.he •physical state of ecrne of the men. only wottangi they would get would be from sprays which could have Jjeen> avoided, and I know of no man being severely injured! by a fauL (3) Theie were no official complaints brought to mv| notice re food, which was inspected daily. The 0.0. Troops ex preyed himself as completely satisfied with the food. T>rovid | ed for the men'. (4) I am. surprised- to learn of any disturbaiKx? having occurred prior to reaching port, ansinf out of these causes.. This is. the •first irjtimation I have received of it. As reeards differential acocmmodation I for officers, N.C.O.'a, and men' these ships carry only thre'e- classes f sengers and the allotting of this to wounded soldiers m.ust rest the fhands; of the New <3meinment's (London' represeivt-atn cs. J. Crosslanidi,\•Commander. - ... Speaking yesterday afternoon, ' Field said that the Minister had failed, to answer question, if a man were> toimponb valuable stock and comp . about the accommodation, on ship was made, would he for a reoort (m the subject from the, captain of the skipIt would be absurd. to sach things. The statement thai. t'he mallei {■would' be referred to the High Com-nus-I sioner was unsatisfactory. WOMEN' POLICE. Dr. A. K.. Newman (Wellimgton> E'i|- 0 asked the Minister in Charge of the Police Department,, Whether . the ; Gov ca n■ment will appoint women to act in uu, police force in affecting worn®?. The Hon. Mr -Her'dman... (Mcncster in Charge of PoMee D'tpa-rfcmentV repxed, Inquiries are Tjeing made from the police authorities in the Unated ICin'g om a ' the United- States of America as to the working of the system, of wottfenjclice in- those countries. On receipt of the desired information., the question*of ap-ryointin-g women- police in New Zealand! - will be considered' by the Government. UOTJSE OF (REPRESENTATIVES., Mr Nosworthy (Ashburton) asked the •Prime 'Minister, Whether *■« duce legislation, to amend seetaoni oi tfaS iftilature Act, 1908, by WJ* for the ■ continuance of. the Hou-i o

Representatives for five years in lieu; of three years, the amendment to take effect after thei termiwa-tion; of the present Parliament'! The Hight Hon. Mr 'Massey (Prime Minister) replied, The not see their way to iiitrodiuce legislation this session in the direction indicated in -the ihonourable member's question. The Government will make an announcement <witb regard to extending the terrm of the present [Parliament in case of the war not Coming to an- end iiu the near future. STUDY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES. Mr \yritihi (Wellington Suburbs and 1 Country District) asked- the of Educations, Whether 'he. does, not think the time spent by a- number of pupils attending higih schools in studying foreign languages amounts, so far as they are concerned, to t-hei acquisition of a smattering, and) that their time ecu Id be more wisely and' beneficiaily. spei ut dm developing the ability to express th-iffn-eelves in l clear logjcail English, andl by obtaining a better knowledge ciation of wihat is exquisite in English literature? Tire Hon. 'Mr Hanan {Minister of Education) replied, As the honourable .member may have gathered from re-mai-ks- of mine Shalt- have from) time to time appeared in the public prints I have a strong personal conviction of the importance the studlyj of the mother-tongue* in 'both the primary and the secondary schools of 'the Dominion and it is my stron'sest w.-ish to improve it. In the existinig "regulations applicable to free-place holders in secondary schools English is at present a compulsory, subject, to which a period of from: three to six hours weekly is required < o be throughout the course. A foreign language is not compulsory, but is generauly taken, and for those preparing for a professional career, must li;i regarded! as essential. Apart from other reason!? the mother-tong.ue "will thus he better unde-i'-stood. I regret to have 'to say, however, that many spend, on profitless study of a dead language precious time that would be better ©pent otherwise. ; For this state of things the wishes of parents themselves a.rei very largely responsible; it is not due to. any wish of ! the Education 'Department that this sub- ,\ ject should be so widely taken.