ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

North Otago Times, 20 July 1917, Page 3

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

CRITICISM OF MINISTEB OF DEFENCE. SHOULD BE RELIEVED OP HIS POSITION. (Per Press Association,) .WELLINGTON, July .19. In the House of .Representatives yesterday afternoon, at 4,1,1, the debate on the' Address-in-.Re'ply was resumed. ■ Mr '.R. McCallum (Wairauj criticised the methods of the Minister of Defence in sending reinforcements, He contended that Parliament knew nothing of what was being done, and things were done which should never have

been aitempted without the consent of Parliament. On the understanding that New Zealand would shortly become the'centre of a number of-dependen-cies, lie approved of the title of Governor-General referred to in the Speech -from the Throne,' but regretted that the- Speech made no reference to any proposed domestic legislation, many useful measures beimr urgently needed. He deprecated Hie handing over of the management of hospital ships Ut I lie -Governor,, and warned the Ministry, that any attempt, in raise the Governor's salary on account of the added dignity would be strongly resented by Parliament, Mr R. Scott (Central Otago) spoke brielly, generally the wo/k of the National Cabinet. The House adjourned' at il'iO p.m. The House -resumed at 7„'I0 p.m. •xi' J. A'i;;or Brown (Napier)- complained that what was supposed to be a National Cabinet had deteriorated into a Farmers' Government in many of its actions, displaying a Toryism characteristic of farmers, There was noth-

iii!,' National about tlic Government, especially about the Minister of Defence, who was a self-appointed autocrat. Ho condemned the inadequate .witlire of the pensions awarded to the widows and mothers of soldiers, and declared that .the House had never intended such niggardly treatment should be meted out, whatever the Government intended. Now that the Second Division was about to be called up, the position became much more acute, and he doubted if the .Minister of Defence \x:\* capable of dealing with the position, lie ought to lie relieved of his position, as Ministers in Great Britain had been re-, lieved of their positions. He defended tlio lmtter-fnt tax nml the purchase of wheat in Australia, which he contended had kept down the price of bread. The Government should assist soldiers in the

payment of. insurance premiums, and generally do something practical to help the boys going out to light, The trouble was that nothing was being done, and while members might talk, all talk was in vain, It seemed to him that nothing l.i'iit 'aii election would bring Ministers' to their senses. Mr G, Witty (Riccarton) urged caution in t|ic matter of reinforcements in order to avoid unnecessarily depopulating the country. His impression was that many soldiers must be unemployed' in Britain. ' tf so, then New Zealand was being asked to do more than her share. More information was needed on the point. He censured the Minister of Defence for handing the control of hospital ships over to the Governor, because this course limited the scope of members' criticism, inasmuch as by Standing Orders the Governor could not be criticised by the House. The Ministers conscripted men, but they went about the country begging farmers. He was afraid they had lost a few shillings by so doing. Such action was wholly inconsistent, Why did the Government not say to the farmers: Yon must grow .wheat for the benelit of the country; if not, you will be sent to the front. The 'Minister of Defence next came under the speaker's review, his loyalty to his officers being complained of. Instances of officers-' alleged blundering were quoted. Many of these officers were simply "toy soldiers," who swaggered round under great privileges which had never been given to the men going to fight. He denounced the inequality of the sentences imposed for. political offences,' and ridiculed the- hypocricy of the Board of' Trade, who went about I preaching economy while Iheir own offices were most luxuriously furnished. The inefiicieticy of the National Efficiency Board was the speaker asking what was the use of all these bosses, whose inability to control prices had been demonstrated;,.over and over again, The speaker concluded by advocating financial assistance to soldiers going to and better provision for returned men. Taxation should be

severe enough to break up the big estates, and amusements should be made e to bear a. share. If the House was un- f able to help ;tho of humanity in ut this way, tlien it was unworthy of the s great trust imposed.indt. . ' f Mr C. E. Statham (Duncd'm Central) c protested against the action of the a Military authorities in giving men who t broke down -in, camp leave without pay. It was true some provision had been made for sick men, but it wns capable ' of much improvement, men being sometimes stranded before their cases could, be 'investigated. lid contended they/ should continue to receive ordinary pay until their" claim was settled, Only., where the. Government could justly re- t fuso .'.to grant' these men a pension was where they withhheid necessary ihfor- ! mation, or supplied false information. ' Coming; to the cost of living the. speaker regretted the Government had not seen its way to take over the whole export trade at-the beginning of the war, He, • feared the■ .Government had'missed a ' jgolden opportunity, This mistake had , been accentuated by the failure to int- - pose an export tax,; which at one, per cent-would yield £IOO,OOO. per ■ annum . without/being an.injustice or. hardship, to anyone. The excess profits tax was imposed entirely .on wrong . lines,, and '' worked) with ei-uol injustice. , m maiiy'': .....people'..who.rondo no, war p.-ofiU in- the .;...'■ true sense of the word. 1 -110, quoted .in-. ;'i'ar.:bG'iii.'support of his contont op fori

,tlio- : urgent witliiirawnl ■"tli.o imposition:ofjin; :gf aduntcd income tax. He. also: fa emir, ed'an aiiniseinents' taXj'prefen'flbly 'on race meetings, theatre's, picture sJiqws, . and concerts, as ( a wholesome cheek on extravngancc, as well aij.ni useful ''•.'rc' j ' i.minder' to the : people jmtti. 'lighting for the freedom > which 'madd these things, possible, A. comprehensive scheme of taxing luxuries should be -(|evised, and ho considered;, the restriction ■lind a tax on the liquor traflic. was "the best way of limiting its evils, Increased provision for old age pensioners 1 was urged to help, them meet ;the stress of times, and to provide this cost a direct levy should be made on the capital wealth of the Dominion, Jf the Government attempted to raise the whole of the rctpiircd 'revenue by. taxation it would lie found that capital could be withdrawn from the country,, and as the war was -being waged incidentally for the protection of private wealth, it was a fair thing that., it should bear a 'sub: stantial share of the cost, and to make provision for those to whom' the war directly brought serious financial sacrifice. He favoured some restriction on. the liquor traflic, but did not favour six o'clock closing without compensation. The debate was .adjourned on the motion of Mr Sykes, and the House rose at 10.50 p.m.