PARLIAMENTARY MISCELLANEA.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11365, 11 October 1917, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY MISCELLANEA.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, [ By Telegraph—Special to Manawatu CS Times. WELLINGTON, Last Night. | The Social Hygiene Bill, which h:..s [been criticised by some women's organisations, had been set down for the committee stage to-day, but the Government decided to postpone its consideration until next week. COST OP LIVING REPORT. The Premier informed the House today that it was proposed to bring down the report of the Cost of Living Committee next Monday evening and to have it discussed at the same sitting. LOCAL SHIPPING STRIKE. In reply to-day to Mr Forbes, who asked the Premier if there were any likelihood §f an early settlement of the local shipping strike, Mr Massey said he could not go into details, but the indications of a satisfactory settlement were better to-day than they had been up to the present. CHEESE AND BUTTER. The Premier informed the House today that he had expected a cablegram last week-end in reply to his communL cation on the subject of cheese purchase by the Imperial authorities. It had not come, however, and on Monday he sent another wire inquiring for a reply. He believed the result would be an answer within a day or two. In answer to an inquiry about butter, the Premier explained a conference had been arranged with the representatives of the butter industry this week, but it had been found necessary to postpone it till next week as the butter men could not come to Wellington this week. MONEY FOR SOLDIERS. The Minister of Defence declines to secure some relaxation in the ordar made by the General Officer Commanding in France, that no private money whatever shall be paid to officers or men while on service or in camp in France. He states it has been been reported by Headquarters of the Expeditionary Force that the net rate of pay for issue in the field is quite sufficient to meet all their needs while the men arc on service or in camp, and that a large amount of money when remitted to soldiers in the field was squandered by the men. In consequence, when they go to England on furlough they have no cash.