ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11507, 1 October 1915, Page 4

ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY. IN TIKES OF WAR. (By Telegraph— Special to the "Star.") WELLINGTON, September 00. J\ar and the existence* of a National Cabinet are compelling; members to submit to the use of tho big boot in a way that would not lmve been tolerated even in Mr Seddon's time, when the great Liberal leader was wont to get his own way without much respect for the reelin<r l > uf friend or foe. Last night several members protested very vigorously against the paltry pensions provider by the Miner Phthisis Aet. They pointed out that i:l a week for married men and 15s for unmarried men were totally inadequato provisions for the workers incapacitated by miners' disease, and urged the Minister to give the sufferers at least enough to maintain a bare subsistence. But Mr I'raser was obdurate. He might do something later on, but for the present the House would have to accept what he offered or he would drop the measure altogether. The House bowed with a poor grace to the inevitable. WHAT'S lA' A NAME? - In these times there is more in a name than the average citizen had suspected before the war. Loyal subjects of the King with German sounding titles, have hastened to get rid of them as soon as possible, but other loyal subjects have been less discreet, and two of them were mentioned in the House last night. Dr Thacker inquired about the nationality of an adjutant, one of the officers at the Trentham camp, au4 Mr Veitch wanted to know if the gentleman acting as censor at Samoa was a British subject. There was no suggestion of any impropriety on tho part of these gentlemen, hut obviously thev are unfortunate at the moment in the rames to which they have succeeded. SICK SOLDIERS. Mr James Craigie, the member for Timaru, is interesting himself on behalf of the members of the 7th Reinforcements, who missed their leave on account of ill-health. He has obtained a promise from the Prime Minister to confer with the Miniser of Defence as to whether it is possible to allow t"he men to visit their friends at a distance before they leave for tho front. BUTTER. In reply to a question by Mr Parr this afternoon, trie Prime Minister made a statement in regard to the price of butter. He had cabled to London about the matter, and learned that there would be no difficulty in selling New Zeala,nd butter at Home at 160s per cwt. The Germans had bought practically all the Danish butter, and ev.m in peace time this would have created ,a t abnormal state of affairs. Mr Mnssey said he would do all that was possible to keep the local price down, and, in reply to an inquiry by Mr Hinc as to whether he knew that the retailers in Wellington were selling at a penny below the export price, he added that ho would take all tho butter he could get at that rate. This sporting offer was acclaimed with emphatic "Hoars, hears," followed by tho interjection, " You won't get it.