A BARRED SUBJECT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13906, 6 November 1919, Page 2

A BARRED SUBJECT.

. LABOR MEMBER ROUSES MINISTER. By. Telegraph. (Special to tlie Oamaru Mail.) WELLINGTON, November 5. While the Appropriation. Bill was being read a third time to-night Mr Holland devoted a. speech to the ministration of Miss Ella Rout among tlie New Zealand soldiers in France. The member for Grey read considerable correspondence containing tinsavory details about Miss Rout's work, and accused tlie. Government of tacitly, if not openly, approving' of her actions by censoring the publication of any reference to her and her work and opinions. Mr Payue followed, and was proceeding to justify Miss Rout's work among the troops when the Prime Minister suggested to Mr Speaker that- the galleries should be cleared. Mr Payne, however, said the subject could be left to his own good taste, and after a few further remarks concerning the lady resumed his seat. The Minister of Finance, in the course of h;-s reply gave an emphatic denial so tlie suggestion that the Government ever had anything to do with Miss Rout, or had controlled her. The Government disapproved of her action and also tried to stop j her from going away. Sir .Tames ' Allen added : 'I did censor communications sent bv Miss Rout to NewZealand and prevented them from '.retting into the press. I did not think that this unsavoiy stuff- — Members : Filth.

Sir James Allen : Yes. filth, should be published. Neither the New Zealand Government nor the New Zealand Army nor the soldiers of thatArm} - had any control of Miss Rout in Paris. But we did not approve of what she was doing. The Minister proceeded to say that the member for Grey had throughout shown three characteristics—lirst. a spirit of vindictiveness : secondly, a spirit of disloyalty to his King, his country, and to' the men who wont from that" country to tight for freedom.

Mr Holland (sneeringly) ; We will let the men show they think that. Sir James Allen: And lastly, what he has done to-night shows he is a reveller in tilth.