TOURING LEGISLATORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16338, 19 September 1916, Page 9

TOURING LEGISLATORS.

BUSY ROUND OF VISITS. INSPECTIONS OF CAMPS. MAORIS AND MARRIAGES. [FROM orra own cohresfoxdext.] LONDON. August 18. The New Zealand members of the Parliamentary party, who have taken part irthe recent Parliamentary visit to the western front, have just concluded an interesting round of official visits and inspections in this country. They havo been greatly interested in all that they have seen. The visits to the military camps and the great munition works have proved of special interest, as the members thereby have been enabled to gain a deep insight into the thoroughness with which the Old Country has risen to an occasion of great national need in regard tc the defence of the heart of the Empire. The determination of Britain not merely to win the war, but to so win it as to ensure a satisfactory and lasting peace, has greatly impressed the Dominion's representatives.

Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., C.M.G., will return to New Zealand shortly. Since the close of the official programme he has been very busy inquiring into matters connected with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and other New Zealand affairs in England. The Hon. W. F. C. Carncross, M.L.C., is at present on a short visit to Liverpool. He expects to leave for homo in a few weeks.

Mr. Parr, who has interested himself very much in the doings of the New Zealand soldiers at Home, tells an amusing story concerning the matrimonial ventures of the men. A few of the soldiers, lie says, marry French girls with the idea of taking their wives back to the colonies, but this ,is not encouraged. In England he has found some New Zealanders have entered into improvident marriages, though, of course, the same thing has happened in regard to the men from the other Dominions. This is being stopped, and it is now necessary to get the consent of the commanding officer, which prevents men marrying women who marry just for the sake of the separation allowance and pension. A diverting incident occurred tho other day. Two Maoris brought two girls and their mother to the officer commanding, and told him they had agreed to be married. The officer, an Aucklander, pointed out to the natives that to take these girls back to the pa in New Zealand was unthinkable. One Maori, however, disclaimed any desire to leave England after he was married, and informed the commanding officer that the mother of his sweetheart kept a hotel in Manchester, and that after tho proposed marriage he was invited to stay as a guest at the hotel for an indefinite period. The commanding officer's consent was not forthcoming, and the applicant, needless to say, went away a bitterly disappointed man.