PARLIAMENTARY GALLERY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3309, 15 August 1917, Page 37

PARLIAMENTARY GALLERY NOTES.

1 By Pat. / August 11. On Wednesday, in the Legislative Council, Sir Francis Bell, the Leader, moved the resolution, which, on the third anniversary ol tne declaration of a righteous war, recorded the Council's determination to continue to a victorious end the struggle in maintenance of the Allies' ideals. The same resolution was passed in the Lower House. Speaking to the resolution, Sir Francis referred to the future, and to the determination of the British people. Like Mr Balfour, he deprecated premature talk about a n pol . lc y wn, ch should be adopted by the Allies in the treatment of Germany after the war. Terms of peace must be decided, he said, by qualified men who will represent the interests of the civilised world. Meanwhile, the Council must coniino its attention to helping the Empire with the conduct of the war. Even as the distinguished Leader of the Council was voicing the high patriotic sentiments with whioh his name is honorably associated, a cablo was speeding across the ocean telling of the death in action of Captain Hal. Bell, the Leader's eldest son, formerly the member for Wellington Suburbs. On the following day, the Hon. Mr Samuel stood in the Leader's place, and moved that: "This Council place on record its high sense of the faithful service rendered to New Zealand by the late Captain William Henry Dillon Bell, killed in action in France, a former member of the House of Representatives, and eldest eon of Sir Francis Bell, Leader of the Council, and respectfully tenders to the parents and relatives an assurance of sincere sympathy with them in their bereavement." Very sincere tributes were paid to the memory of this ' distinguished young man, who, in his short life had accomplished much at the Bar and in the House, and .later in Samoa, where his legal acquirements were of infinite value, and later still in the battlefields of France, where his services had been highly approved by senior officers. On such occasions, members of both Houses speak the truth that is in them, and the brief speeches made that day may bring consolation to the mourning family in days to come. Assuredly Captain Hal Bell has left his mark on the sands of time. The Hon. Mr Charles Johnston is absent from the Speaker's chair in the Upper House. He has gone to America for medical advice for a very serious complaint. A ■ few hours after his lifelong friend, Sir Francis Bell, had received his tragic news, a cable arrived telling of the death, by a eniper's bullet, of Brigadier-general Erl Johmston, the Speaker's eldest son, and the third member of his family to die as the direct result of this cruel war. The Speaker has also lost his daughter-in-law, the general's young wife, and his son-in-law, the late Major Levin, who was killed at the evacuation of Gallipoli. Sorrow has visited the homes of many members of both Houses. On the Wednesday afternoon, in the Lower House, there were two resolutions of sympathy—one for the relatives of Captain Bell, the other for Mr Rhodes, member for Thames, who heard that day of the death in action of his son, Sergeant Rhodes. On Friday afternoon, Mr Webb, who has recently been released from gaol, where he served a sentence for sedition, moved for permission to introduce an amendment to the _ War Regulations Act, and lost the motion after a speech in the House which was chiefly noticeable for its spiteful references to the Attorney-general. Naturally, he presented to the House his own view of recent industrial troubles, and also spoke in complimentary fashion of the men 'in gaol, with whom he had been associated recently, describing them as some of "the best men alive." He also added that ho had left some of the greatest isooundrels alive—in the House. This trifling addition he withdrew at the Speaker's request. In the course of his speech ho adroitly paid a compliment to the diplomacy of the Acting Prime Minister, Sir James Allen, and of the Minister of Mines, the Hon. Mr Macdonald. whose attitude, he admitted, had been conciliatory in dealing with the istrike in the State Mines against compulsory service. The diplomacy of tho leaders of the Government, according to Mr Webb, did not compare favourably with that of Sir James Allen and Mr Macdonald. Mr Webb and others have repeatedly stated that there is dissension in tho Cabinet. The wish being father to tho thought—is this a preland plan? The diplomacy which he pro-, fesses to admire was regarded by many as a weakness which might in future lead to interference with the administration of justice. Mr Webb declared that the go-slow polioy in the mines is the result of the coal owners' refusal to meet the miners in conference. He pictured himself as the apostle of industrial peace, the martyr who has suffered imprisonment (and enjoyed the experience, he says) because ho endeavoured to avert an industrial crisis. He declared that the leaders of the workers have always endeavoured to keep industrial peace, and that recent upheavals are the result of the Prime Minister's "pigheadedness." This word he changed to "bigheadedness" when requested by the Speaker to withdraw. The case for Mr Webb, having been stated very fully by himself, the motion was put and lost a 3 previously reported.

Onlookers were interested to observe that with Mr Wobb there voted Sir James Oarroll, Mr Craigie, Mr Glover, Mr M'Combs, Mr' Payne, Mr T. K. Sidey (Caversham), Dr Thacker, Mr Walker _ (Dunedin), and Sir John Findlay. Is this the personnel of the new party' which it is rumoured Sir John Findlay hopes to lead? It is noted that Mr Webb endeavoured to quote freely from a newspaper article which condemned the War Regulations, and that Sir John Findlay is a large shareholder in that newspaper, which, curiousl/ enough, published the article at a moment singularly opportune for Mr Webb's purpose). There has been a debata on the subject of rejects. According to Dr Thacker, the Defence Minister is bowing to publio orrinion. Dr Thacker's ch : ef complaint is that obviously unfit men are sent to camp, whereas Mr "Witty and many others complain that over a thousand flat-footed men, fit for service, had been rejected. Dr Thacker is of opinin that, because of public agitation, camps other than Trentham were formed, and he believes that the m >mv,e of a holiday for Main Body men has been wrung from the Minister by public agitation. This week the Defence Minister told the House that arrangements are htann made

to bring home on furlough some of the Main Body men; but, he added, in rcsponso to an interjection by Mr Glover (who addressed him directly as the ' Hon. Sir James Allen, Minister," regardless of Parliamentary etiquette) that those men "who can make out a good case" will certainly return. There is anxiety now among outsiders who had heard the rumour of the hoped-for furlough. Is that furlough to be optional? Must it be applied for? Will it be given to men who do not apply? Hopes of a glad re-union at Christmas time arcgetting faint. Will all tho survivors of that gallant pioneer band apply for leave now? Furlough should bo compulsory. The House has heard that the rate of reinforcing tho New Zealand Division is to bo reduced from 15 per cent, to 12 per cent. The War Office has made the suggestion, the Minister says. The writer perceives that the War Office "is not a hass. It gives an ear to public opinion, and helps the New Zealand Defence Minister over a difficult place. Persistent rumour that the age limit is to be reduced to 19, and possibly 18—and great indignation among politicians and others, especially Second Division men, who have no desire to hide behind children. It is remembered that severe punishment has been promised brave lads who give a false declaration of age, on the determination to get to the front, and it has been stated repeatedly that a boy of 19 is not fit for the cruel game of war. Should any such proposal be brought forward there will be some very angry scenes. But the whole thing may be merely "public opinion." The genial Minister of Railways (the Hon. Mr Herries) exerted himself to reply very forcibly to criticism made by Messrs Veitch and Wilford against the Railways Rolling Stock Commission, whose report was printed this week. The report is entirely satisfactory, but the two protesting members declare that "the well-paid members of the Commission" (three of the most competent engineering authorities in New Zealand) went about the country making inquiries of officers in charge of sections, while .the Minister and Mr Hiley (general manager) cleaned up the back premises. The Minister warmly defended Mr Hiley from imputations which have been levelled against him, regretting that those who object to his being a colonel are simply spiteful. The railway service owes much to him, and loses nothing through his connection with the Defence Department. On Tuesday of this week Mr Wilford and Mr Sidey contributed helpful speeches in the financial debate. These speeches contained none of the carping criticism with which the House has been deluged lately. Amongst other matters, Mr Wilford suggested increasing the rate of interest on deposits in the Savings Bank, as has been done in the United States, with the object of drawing increased deposits. He had something to say about the cost of living—a subject in which he has taken interest. He referred, with approval, to the new method of graduating the income tax, making it so simple that every man can estimate his own tax. He objected to the proposed tax on picture theatre tickets, preferring a tax on the films.

Mr T. K. Sidey felt that some concession should be made in favour of personal earnings under the new taxation. Lobby criticism says that "a man living on personal earnings is exhausting a wasting asset —i.e., himself, —so that part of his income should be treated as capital and freed from income tax." Doubtless Mr Sidey will agree, though he recognises that the excess profits tax does not work equitably. Mr Sidey does not want the Government to abandon the attempt to collect some of the profits. He doubts the practicability of compulsory contribution to the war loan, and objects to the tax on tea. Ho girded at the cost of living. Subsequent speeches in the finance debate have not broken any new ground. Mr Hunter complained of the inadequate tax on beer. Brewing, he said, was one of the wealthiest industries in the Dominion, employing less labour than many not so favourably treated, so that when the brewers went down on their knees at night they had every reason to say:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Massey, Allen, Ward, and Co.

An important statement was made this week by Sir Joseph Ward in reference to the custody of War Loan certificates and New Zealand War Bonds. Arrangements will be made with the Post Office, enabling that department to accept them and give receipts. In addition to this, provision is to be made for the certificates being made payable to order if the purchasers wish it. This will get over the difficulty which has deterred some investors, especially trustees. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Ministers gave the following answers to questions: —That so long as naturalised' British subjects gave no indications of disloyalty the conditions of naturalisation must be observed in New Zealand as in other parts of the Empire; that motor vehicles have become essential for carrying on some of the industries of the dominion. The duty collected on motor cars last year was £148,000; that the Railway Department, through the High Commissioner, is doing its best to obtain material which is urgently required; that Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward gave no promise to Bishop Cleary in England that Marist Brothers would not be conscripted; that the attention of the banks had been drawn to the unclean bank notes in circulation, and further representations were being made; that the present instructions from the Imperial Government regarding the shipment of meat were that preference in shipment must be given to beef and wether mutton, and that when the companies could not fill their allotment space with such meat, ewe mutton and lamb might be shipped. These instructions were being carrier] out. AN ALLEGED SPY. In reply to Mr Witty, the Minister of Defence states that his department has no information regarding the supposed discovery and arrest of a steward who was alleged to be a spy, and who had travelled back and forward with tho transports since the outbreak of the war. Tho Minister states that if the hon. member will supply him with further details ho will bo glad to have full inquiry made. THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. Mr Reed asked the Prime Minister whether tho Government would immediately take over the management of all licensed premises, breweries, and wine and spirit licenses during tho period of the war and six months after the next general election, put the question of Stato control of the liquor trade to a referendum at next general election, and, if confirmed, continue the control of the liquor traffic until financial conditions permitted of national ownership?

The Prime Minister replied that the Government could not see its way to increase the financial liabilities of the dominion during the war. «