PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14444, 30 June 1917, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

Wellington, June 29. A pertinent question on the subject of New Zealand's fighting force was. ; put to the Defence Minister by Mr. i Okey, for future reply. He desiresto know, What number of battalions have been sent to the Old Country; what reinforcements were promised to keep up the strength of these battalions; what has been tte wastage by death, wounds, and disease up to March 31st last; what number of sur»nlus1 men sent for reinforcements have been now formed into further divisions : aro all these men hoin<r used for the purpose for which they were sentr from New Zealand: and wtat wa,s the total number of fit men in the Old | Country at the end of March last? The m ember for Mataura wishes to know .whether the Government intends to tnkp power this session to deal effectively with those shirkers wto fait to report for duty when called "up, o» who di^apnear from the districts' in which they are residents.