PARLIAMENT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 82, 31 October 1918, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

| LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. j Per Press Association. I Wellington, October 30. ’ The Council met at 2.30 p.ra. Sir John Sinclair was sworn in. The Hon. Alison moved the Address- j in-Reply. He referred with satisfaction to the statement of Mr Balfour that Empire communications would be .safeguarded. The repatriation problem was most important, and a special department should be created to deal with it. I The Hon. Hawke seconded the mo- ' lion. The most important problem i requiring solution was, the .provision I for returned soldiers. He suggested the formation of civilian committees at Rotorua to assist in the administration of the soldiers’ workshops, and that civilian committees of busi--1 ness.men and< retired farmers should j also be formed to assist soldiers who settled on small holdings and give them expert advice as to stock, man--1 ures, crops, etc. To deal with the ! cost, of living, he suggested that municipal dwellings be sold’at the cheapest rate, also the formation of co- , operative associations by trade unions and civil servants. He advocated a combination of technical and high schools, better payment of male teachers, and more modern school buildings. I Sir John Sinclair spoke as to the need of preparation for post-war trade by increasing efficiency. The debate was adjourned at 1.20 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. SIGNATURES TO PETITIONS. Mr Harris said ho had received letters from several of his constituents stating they had signed the liquor trade petition in mistake for the Prohibition Party’s petition, and he asked for guidance a.s to how the names could be expugned from the petition. The Speaker’ replied that as the petition had been presented direct to the Government, and not to the House, the names in question should be sent on to the Government. Replying to Mr Harris, the Premier said he had discovered that the petitions presented to the Ministei for Finance and himself by the New Zealand Alliance and the liquor trade were really intended for the House, and it would, therefore, be his duty to present them to the House, probably to-morrow. If it was desired that a scrutiny of the names attached to the petitions should take place, tile 1 responsibility for allowing such scrutiny would rest? with the Speaker. QUESTIONS. Mr Buick said lie had several requests of a similar nature from Ins constituents. Mr Witty gave notice of Ins intention to ask the Minister for Defence if the Defence Commission’s re- ’ port contained a clause which adversely criticised the Chief of the General Staff, and, if so, by whose authority the clause was expugned. Mr Brown gave notice to ask whether it was possible for a man of German descent to enter the Flying Corps in New Zealand. Mr Downie Stewart asked whether the Government, in view of the fact that the general election had been deferred, would submit to the House the names of individual members of Cabinet for approval or disapproval. Ho held that by such procedure the House would be not only able to pass judgment on Ministers individually, but it would test the efficacy of the elective executive principle. Replying to Mr Luke, the Premier sail lie would be glad* to submit t« Cabinet the proposal that New Zealand should claim an indemnity from Germany for losses during the war, but be was emphatically of opinion that not all the money in Germany could adequately compensate New Zealand for the 15,000 young men who bad lost their lives in the war. He noticed that Australia was taking some steps in the direction of compensation from Germany, and lie would bo glad to give the matter consideration.

In reply to Mr Veitch, Mr Hanau said he hoped, a little later, to submit proposals to ease, the financial embarrasment of friendly societies regarding their liabilities for sick pay to returned soldiers after discharge by the military authorities. A DD R ESS-IN-HEPL Y. Mr Witty severely criticised the war administration of the Defence Department, and ridiculed the reference in the Governor’s Speech to the proposals for the reduction of the cost of living. Mr Holland said the Labour Party was not in the House to effect a change in the individuals on the Government benches, but to change the principles on which they act. They were not there to start a class war, because class war already existed. That was their charge against the National Government—a charge they dare not deny—that their legislation was class administration. EVENING SITTING. Dr Newman said there was no doubt the hand-writing was on the wall so far as the National Government was concerned. The people wanted an election so that they might express their opinion on the conduct

of affairs by the Naiional Cabinet. The country was waiting for a

lead and for leadership.

M INISTER OF DEFENCE.

Hon. G. W. Russell said the Government, did not object to criticism. The purpose for which the National Cabinet was formed was to win the war, and the Government had, perhaps, not given that attention to domestic legislation that many people seemed to expect. Still, there were certain proposals outlined in the Go-

vernor’s speech, and these were not all that the Government had in view. Replying to Mr Holland’s indictment of conscription, he explained why conscription became necessary. What the country wanted was equality of sacrifice, and conscription was the only way’ in which that equality could he secured. On the cost of living, he did not say everything had been done that might have been to reduce it, but increased prices were world-wide, and be quoted statistics to prove his contention.

Referring to the problems of the future, the Minister urged that the supreme duty of the Administration was the repatriation of the 80,000 soldiers still at the front. They must get something better than to be cooperative labourers on public works. The men must get the full opportunity to go on the land, and must receive a thorough instruction. Dozens of farming schools would be required.

He hoped the Government and the patriotic societies would help the soldiers who brought wives back from the Old Country to furnish homes. He was a great believer in small settlements, which wrought wonders in many parts of the Dominion. He also considered there must be great industrial development in this respect. He looked with considerable hope to the mining industry, which, to a great extent, was yet in its infancy. Hydro-electric power would be a great factor in this connection, and he, therefore, favoured the idea of handing the sources of this energy over to the local bodies, which can develop it, while the State is yet unable to do so. Technical schools must play a great part in the reconstruction scheme and become a substitute for the apprentice system, which is now effete, and it was to technical schools we must look for our future skilled mechanics. Speaking of the predicted fate of the National Government, he said threatened men live long, and he was certain that when tlje time came for an election the National Government, either as a separate entity or in its two constituent parts, would have a policy to meet the needs of the Dominion. The House rose at 10.25 p.m.