PARLIAMENT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 20, 17 August 1917, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Per Press Association. Wellington, August IG. The Council resumed to-day. The second reading of the New Zealand Inscribed Stock Bill was moved by Sir Francis Bell, who said he intended to ask the Council to refer the Bill to the Statutes Revision Committee. Hon. 0. Samuel, in reviewing the measure, said he had interviewed the head of one of the banks, who stated that the securities of the proposed Bill were such that banks would be reluctant to accept some of them. The Bill was referred to the Committee as proposed, and the Council adjourned. • HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2.-‘lO. Replying to Mr Poland, the Minister for Defence said that instructions were issued two years ago that the worthless effects of dead soldiers were, not to be sent back to parents, but that watches and trinkets were to be returned, useless clothes being burned. He regretted if in any case tins instruction bad not been observed. Hon. G. W. Russell laid on the table the fifth annual report of the Public Service Commissioner. WAR BONUS. Replying to Mr Ye itch, Sir Joseph' Ward said it was clearly defined that only members of the public service in receipt of not more than £315 were to receive a war bonus. It was not practicable to take into consideration the overtime worked in the allocation of the money. It was not possible / to treat all cases with a perfect equality, as there must, in the nature of things, be some incongruties. A bonus paid for special service was not taken out of the £IOO,OOO voted by the Government. Sir J. Findlay suggested there ought to be some greater differentiation between married men with families and those,with no families. These were days in which s we were asking the people to keep the cradles full, and he thought the Government 'should set the example and show some consideration to men with families. Mr Wright endorsed this view. Mr Wilford put in a plea for a bonus for casuals, -a.MfcL he strongly protested against the men with big salaries being paid a bonus for special service. He also wanted to know how long the term of appointment of tlie Public Service Commissioners had yet to run. Mr Anderson contended that no one receiving more than £2OO should participate in the war bonus.

Mr Massey defended the vote for special service. He instanced the case of Mr Triggs, whose salary was £IOOO a year, and who received £2OO for special work in connection with the Imperial Meat Supply Department. Mr Ileakes and Dr. Valintine were in much tlu};/Sflme, position, both doing a great deal of special work owing to • the war, and the bonus in these cases were well deserved. Messrs McCallum and Payne denounced bonuses being paid to men in receipt of high salaries. Sir J. Allen quoted Hansard, to show that these memebrs bad not opposed the vote for special service men before the House, their speeches today being deathbed repentances. Mr Forbes quoted from the report to show that the Commissioners complained of the Government not giving effect to their recommendations, and asserted that if they had regarded these recommendations, defalcations to the extent of £14,000 would not have taken place. Hon. G. W. Russell, in reply, agreed that £3OO was too high a basis on. which a bonus should be paid. He admitted there was a good deal to be said in favor of the bonus being paid to married men on a ratio - of family, but it was most difficult to work out a perfectly equitable scheme. He was, however, prepared to receive suggestions. The Public Service Commissioners were appointed for seven years. As a result of his administration of tlie Act for two years he was now of opinion that the country could not go back to the- jblß position of Ministerial control, unless a Minister of Public Service responsible to the House was appointed. He pointed out that 3316 men had gone to the front up to March 31st, and the work was necessarily being done under I great difficulty; so that it was surIprising, rather than otherwise, that the defalcations were so small. The Premier moved that the names of the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald and R. A. Wright be added to the Cost] of Living Committee. Several members asked that Labor should have a more direct representation on the Committee. Mr Massey said there were already five representatives of Labor on the Committee. The motion was passed, and the House rose at 5.30. At 7.30 the debate on the Budget was resumed by Mr Statham and Dr. Newman. The House rose at 10.35.