WAR QUESTIONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 457, 28 July 1915, Page 2

WAR QUESTIONS.

NATIONAL RESERVE. [From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 27. The usual batch of war questions came before the Mouse this afternoon. Mr J. V. Brown (Napier) gave noI lice to ask the Minister of Defence whether he would fake steps to have the National Reserve officially recognised. GOVERNMENT WOOLLEN MILLS. Mr Brown further gave notice of his intention to ask the Government whether it would consider the advisability of establishing' Governjtnent woollen mills for the supply I of war material. The Napier Woollen Mills were offered for sale, and might possibly be closed down, although they had large orders on hand for khaki cloth. SOLDIERS' WINTER CLOTHING. Dr A. K. Newman (Wellington East) gave notice to ask whether the Government was supplying warm clothing for the troops during the winter, and whether it was sending waterproof sheets for the men in the trenches. CARE OF SOLDIERS. Sir Joseph Ward asked the Minister of Defence whether he was aware of the necessity of something being done to help our soldiers in Cairo, who might get into trouble and difficulties there., A suggestion had been made that New Zealand should assist in establishing some ( kind of a home which would pre-; vent the men from getting into j trouble. This was necessary, in | order that the men might be taken! in hand by those willing to help I them. He would be pleased to forward a number of clippings on the matter to the Minister. The Hon. J. Allen said that he 1 coidd only speculate as" to what the j right hon. gentleman was referring to, but if his speculation'were correct he could say that every possible precaution was being taken. He did not- know of any special home or special hospital.' Many of the men were taken "into private homes, and, of course, there was the convalescent home, run by Lady Godley. WRITING PAPER FOR TROOPS. Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) suggested that a supply of writing paper and envelopes should be sent to the front by the Government Printing Office for the use of the soldiers. Mr Allen said that the hon. member had not appreciated the difficulty. It was not that paper could not be obtained, but that the military authorities could not distribute it in the firing line. If the relatives and friends of the men sent them paper in their letters they would be sure to get it. The idea was an excellent one, and he commended it to the re T latives of soldiers.