PARLIAMENTARY GALLERY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 44

PARLIAMENTARY GALLERY NOTES.

By Pat. WELLINGTON, June 24. The galleries were full on Tuesday mgnt, when tno debate on tne Budget was expected to open. Members scrolled in as usual, many of them emitting and joking together in friendly fashion, though afterwards it was remembered that wiien business began tho Prime Minister and most of the old hands were seated in their places. After formal business the Speaker put the format motion —"'lhat i do now leave the- chair in order that the House may go in Committee of Supply." Then tne unexpected happened. Before members realised that anything unusual was on the motion was carried. There was no acknowledged leader of tho opposition: each man relied upon the others, and in consequence the opportunity of discussing the Budget uas So amazed were members that for a few moments they failed to pull themselves together. Eventually tho House saw the humorous side oi tne incident, and gave' itself up to laughter. Mr Nguta in a merry \oiee suggested that such progress had been made that a holiday for tiie evening inigtfc be taken and was deserved. But this the Prime Minister laughingly re!used, and a little work was done. 'lime has been saved, but it is not considered that the fiasco is good for the country. The long debate on the Budget always gives the Government an epportunity to feel tho temper of the House and, through it, of the country. A wisa Government welcomes discussion and receives with thankfulness some of the suggestions which are brought forward. Therelore, no doubt, Ministers,' with the country, are' glad that some discussion did eventually take place. Mr Pearce (Patea) hit upon an ingenious idea, and produced it the following evening. He moved an amendment. Such a move in ordinary times could only be taken as one of no-confidence. But Mr Pearce is a supporter of the Government. His amendment was not hostile, and he proposed to give himself and others an opportunity to redeem what they had lost. The amendment was lost eventually, but not until many members had talked to it; and while doing so had expressed opinions on the policy, etc. This has been a very upside-down week. Strangers may wonder what is meant when u member casually and jestingly asks GreyLynn if he wisiies to "step outside afterwards." But others know there is something behind, and they do not smile, for '.Trey Lynn threw an ugly insult across the floor one day tiiis week, and later had cause to repent the throwing. In moving his amendment Mr Pearce legrettecl that amusements had not been taxed. Ho considered the farmer was overtaxed, and he failed to see tho --bject of putting returned soldiers on the land if they were afterwards to be taxed off it. Mr Payne threw a little vitriol into the discussion by attacking the Minister of Defenco. He talked of troopship scandals. Mr Allen subsequently denied the allegations, and produced some circumstantial evidence to support his contention. Mr Nosworthy (Ashburton) adopted a very serious tone. He resented no taxation imposed upon the farmers, who were ready io give up all if necessary, but he asked for equity or sacrifice, and begged that the farmer should not be penalised. He hoped that the taxation on the farmer had now reached its limit, for the farmer can stand no more. In his speech he expressed strong disapproval of tho "cadging system," and stated that all money required should be raised by taxation.

Sir Joseph Ward pointed out that taxes on amusement: in New Zealand l would amount to so little that at present they are not worth considering. "Tinkering with small tilings/' he scorned, and ho claimed that with the taxation of war profits there would be equity cf taxation. The cost of living, the Minister of Finance stated, is as great a worry to members of the Government as it is to everyone else—or words to that effect. Mr Harris, of Waitemata, and many other members regretted that boor has not received extra attention at the hands of this most marvellous financier, who has produced a. surplus of £2.000,000 in war time, and who is preparing for a needy future in a mariner of which the wise virgins would entirely approve. The amendment, as before stated, was lost on the voices. The House has since been occupied with Estimates. Telephones were discussed at length, and the Postmaster-general nssurcd the House that his first concern was to supply thinlyr>opiilatcd districts with means of communication. This shows that he is not unmindful of the farmer hi the backblocks, whose existence is made tolerable by the telephone and whose wife, poor soul, deserves that one luxurv. The Post Office vote was carvied after'the House had heard incidentally that in future magazines, etc., could be left at post offices, where they will be collected and forwarded to the soldiers. Railway votes were next discussed—Mr Homes at the tabic. Dangerous crossings came in for cons'cleration, but are to remain a menace, for there is no money to spare for such alterations just now The railways and their sleepers were ,!iseussed at such length that the House sat hue into the night. When Public Works appeared upon the scene there was a natural clamour The Hutt. road is always a dobatoable point.. Mr Forbes. (Hurunui) declared that spending money on it is "nutting a polish on a golden highway." It is so seldom that a member uses terms out of the ordinary that his simile should be recorded. \ very interesting debute took place on Friday night, when Mr Wilford moved to reduce the Patent Office item by £1 as an indication that the tunc lias arrived to cancel every German patent. After some deliberation', the Attorney-general remembered the circumstance which led to the

legislation of last year. It appears that provision has been made to confiscate every property in New Zealand, but that such confiscation lias not yet taken place. In reply to Mr Wilford's statement that Germanv has confiscatorl British property in Germany, Mr Ilerdman said that because Germany lias behaved in a blackguardly way there is no reason why \vc should. This opened the way to a real parliatnontnry *• e,0." Mr Payne announced that he was prepared to believe that the 1 louse was after all not pro-German if it voted for Mr Wilford's amendment. Mr Wilford said he knew the House was not proGerman. " Lvsoi" was discussed, and it was discovered that it is manufactured by

a linn called Zimmerman and Co. in England. Air Poole remarked that the name Zimmerman sounds Scotch. Air Malcolm, the Chairman of Committee, declined to allow d.scucsion on even the possibility of pro-German ism in the House. Mr Statham (Dunedin) spoke -words of wisdom, and urged caution. He showed that confiscation 01 assets might prove extremely foolish, ] and that ii patents or property should be j confiscated thty should be seized by and for the State. He warned members not to bo drawn by Air Payne. 'io render patents useless would be an act of folly. He urged the House to vote agairJPt Mr Wilford's amendment. The Prune Almister regarded the amendment as an attack upon the Government. He cited what had already been done, and claimed that his Government had even anticipated some of the findings of the Paris Conference. If the word

" Lysol" were wiped out Germans could appropriate it after the war. Lysol had been handed over to Pearson's Antiseptic Company. He himself was anxious to prevent trade with Germany, now and for a generation after the war. Zimnn rman, Pearson, Schloss, and others were freely criticised, l'xie Attorney general guv>j a, detailed account of precautionary measures which have been taken, and will be taken in the future. When the division was taken, there were only three votes lor Air Vv liford's motion. Air Payne is now absolutely certain tnat the Hous'. is pro-German. During the week, and in the absence of the Alinister of Defence, Mr i'ooie (.-.uei<land) made grave charges and asked grave

questions concerning food on transports and German prisoners and their treatment. On his return the lion. Air Allen answered these statements, and regretted exceedingly that Air Poole should ask these questions without notice, and should spread untrue reports and false impressions. He read several letters from men who were on the transport under discussion—letters in which there was reference to the excellent food supplied, and which were written by private soldiers whoso names may be made public. Air Allen suggested to "Air Poole that he should come privately to headquarters with complaints such as he had made, and that he should be very careful to help and not hinder the good cause. The treatment of German prisoners has been warmly crscusscd in the House. According to Air Poole, in Auckland prisoners drive about the towns in motor cars, while youthful guards, with cigars in their mouths, sit in the back scats, bayoneta fixed. •How," asks Air Poole, "could the guard be stern with men by whom they have been treated?" How, indeed? And presumably the Defence Alinister has noted, and is asking in proper quarters how men of British blood can bring themselves to accept cigars from Huns. Air Poole intimates that Auckland people do not approve of an alleged tendency on the part of the authorities ''to be nice to the Germans.'' On Friday afternoon, when the Legislative Council met, the Speaker (the Hon. Air Charles Johnston) was absent, and the Council, on the motion of the Leader (Sir Francis Bell), passed a resolution of deep regret, at the death of Airs W. L. Levin, the Speaker's eldest daughter, who had died j the previous n : ght. Great sympathy was j expressed for the Speaker and his family in their sorrow. In announcing the death of Airs Levin, Sir Francis Bell spoke with emotion, and reminded the Council that she was the widow of the late Major Levin, who received his death wound at the evacuation of Gallipoli. He spoke, too. of the Speaker's family, and told the Council that the Speaker's sons are all at the war, except one, who is physically unfit. The Council adjourned as a mark of respect. In answer to Air Brown's question whether the members of the Police Force would receive the war bonus, the Alinister in Charge of the Department stated: '"The answer is in the affirmative." RAILWAY RATES. To Air Yeiteh, who asked the Alinister of Railways regarding the tariff, the Hon. Air lierries (Alinister of Railways) stated that the tariff was at present under review, and he hoped to be able to gazette at an early date certain alterations, having for their object the adjustment of differential charges which were included in the present tariff." NO CURTAILMENT OF RACING. "The Government does not consider it necessary to deal by legislation with the suggested curtailment of, racing," is the reply given to Mr Malcolm by the Prime I Alinister. DEFERRED SUPERANNUATION. To Air M'Callum's suggestion that the superannuation of all civil servants be deferred! until the close of the present war, the Hon. G. W. Russell has replied: "It is not considered necessary to interfere with the working of the Public Service Act in tii? direction indicated." A DUAL POSITION. In answering Air Nosworthy's question about a post and telegraph office clerk named PI. E. Combs also holding a position as permanent secretary of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association and thus drawing "a double salary, totalling £/bJ a year, the Postmaster-general stated that the clerk concerned had now resigned from the public service. SOLDIERS' INSURANCE. The opinion is sometimes expressed that soldiers should be insured for the benefit of their dependents. To such a suggestion put forward by Air Poole, the Hon. J.Allen (Minister of Defence) replied: "It is not clear by the question whether the proposed insurance scheme is intended to coyer death only or to include incapacity arising from wounds or disease. No general scheme for soldiers' insurance has so far as I am aware been adopted by any other Government. The system adopted in New Zealand of providing pensions in cases of death, disablement, or incapacity arising from active service, meets the necessities of a soldier's dependents in a more satisfactory way than the payment of a. lump sum of £2GO. which under "ordinary investment would bring in interest amounting only to about £lO per annum "GRADUATED LAND TAN. A return presented to the House to-day shows that the amount of graduated land Hy mid on urban land durmg the year 1914-15 was £80,121, as against £83.101 in 1013.14 The amount paid in a similar tax on rural laud was £177.943 in 1913-14. and £171,581 in 1914 15.