WAR MATTERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11512, 7 October 1915, Page 8

WAR MATTERS.

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. f.FnoM Orn Coicni.hroNDKNT.J Wi:i.l.l:s(;TON. October (5. Air Pnync :iski'(i tho Ministor of .Munitions to-il:iy wh'Mi li<i wuui'i l*',. on tlio t.'i'blc of' tlio House, tlio rusulb of i.lto iiioiiit.v into the ira'.lnf.'.o ol" tlio I)c- fnco l>(' [,):u' 11nf nt. The 11 Oil A. M. ilvers; I jH-c.-nuno tho hon f_'oillleman incans lhi> ropot'tof tlu> Commission rocentiv set up i<> deal with the stores tiepartnif.-nt. Tliat is cntiixdy n dopftrr.-mtMitn! report ;;n<i is at tho prose lit- timo under tho cotisideration of Cabiuot. BINOCULARS FOR OFI'ICLHS. A question as to tho equipment which New Zealand i>ffioere should receive was raised by Mr Field (Nelson)., to which the Hon J. Allon (Minister of Defence) replied; "Tho Defence Department does consider binoculars a necessary part of an officer's equipment. Binoculars will be supplied in Egypt and elsewhere when possible. I will inquire as to the practice in Britain in regard to the supply of binoculars to 11011-commissj.oned officers. There is, in my opinion, a difficulty in supplying binoculars m New Zealand and it is not an economical process." SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS. The Hon A. L. Herdman informed Sir Yeitch that it is not. considered practicable to extend the functions of tho Returned Soldiers Department to include South African veterans. The system of tho department so far as the present Expeditionary Forces are concerned is to register every man who returns, inquire as to his character and surroundings, and interview him to seo what employment bo desires and to do everything possible to get him placed. This procedure is manifestly impossible now iu the case of tho South African veterans. Jt is unfortunate, adds the Minister, that men who returned to civil employment more than ten years ago have not by now settled down in permanent employment. APARIMA MEN. Thirteon men camo back on the troopship Aparima in tlio capacity of military guards and Red Cross orderlies, not Patients, according to Mr Wilford and Mr Isitt, who asked the Minister of Defence to publish these men's names and the reason for their return. Some painful experiences had befallen them, because they were taken for disgraced men. One young fellow who was engaged was barred from entering a placo because he came back on the Aparima, though he was one of the military police and had bis badge. The Hon J. Allen replied that 'lie was sorry there bad been any misunderstanding and ,be would be pleased tj publish the names of those who came back on duty. NEW ZEALAND HAND GRENADES. ' The Minister of Munitions informed Mr Parr to-day that tho Government is in communication with the War Office in regard to an Aucklandmade hand grenade. A test had been made, which was on tho whole satisfactory, but bo could not say whether .the grenades would bo manufactured iu New Zealand until he heard from the War Office. WILLS OF SOLDIER MINORS. A question was asked the Defence Minister this afternoon on the subject of the legality of wills made by soldiers under tho age of twenty-one years. Mr .E. Newman wished ttie Minister to say if he would take into consideration tho advisableness of introducing legislation to make legal the wills of these young men who were going away to tho war. Ho pointed out that great complications were _ occurring, as they were dividing their land and other property and were making wills, which, he understood, were illegal, because they were under twentyone years of age. Tho Hon J. Allen replied that ho thought the question was really one for the Attorney-General. All he could say was that bo would be very glad indeed if the Attorney-General could sea his way to introduce a clause to allow soldiers enlisting at twenty years of ago making their wills. The Hon D. Buddo: Why not legalise them for all purposes, as if thev were twenty-one Mr Allen: I think something ought to be done, and I am quite agreeable if the Attorney-General consents. TO THE LAST MAN. Tho member for Patea diew tho Hon J. Allen's attention this afternoon to a statement reported to have been made bv the Rev P. Bennett at a public meeting at Palnatua, in .which jt was suggested that as SOO nativoj had already volunteered no more should volunteer.* the contention being that 1000 would be in excess of the Maoris' f«iir Quotu. Pefirco s<ud th<ib in Australia, he understood, severe fines were inflicted upon anyone discouraging recruiting. tho Minister said that lie bad seen the statement but had not considered it of sufficient importance to notice. As far as the Natives were concerned ho thought they were perfectly able to look after themselves and would not take any notice of that sort, of thing if thev desired to enlist. .... . Mr "Parata, speaking on behalf of tho Native people declared that the feeling of the .Maoris was nol with the statement referred to by the member for Patea. As long as the Jimp ire was covered with the garb of «-ar the Maoris were' prepared to take their part and he believed that if the lastMaori had to go to tho front and icwas necessary for tho last di op of Maori, blood to be shed' for the Empire under whose benign laws they were proud to live, thf.v would yo on to tlio last man. (Heat, hear and applause.) REPORTS ABOUT WO UN I)EJ>. In answer to a (suggestion from Air Yeitch that a special effort should be made to improve the suppiy of information about wounded soHuers_ to their relatives in Now Zealand, Sir Joseph \\ ard gave- the following reply _to-day ; My reply must be that until Lieu- ! tenant-Colonel Rhodes, M.P., eiaK.es j hiV report .1 am unable to do more than i is beini; done now. Very special <•)- j fort is already made to give all the in- J formation possible about wounded 'ol- j diers to their next of kin iu New Zea- j land. There is a war inquiry buvenn i at every post office of imporraueo in ihe Dominion, and mi officer of the general pose office U occupied on behalf of ibe Defence Department, making the fr-'C inquiries provided by (lie Imperial rregulations, and every inquiry that is permitted by fbo:-e regulations is already made with a- litvis* \ as pospible". In i'aei, ;i jiood deal more mtorui;ttk>n is obtained and given , • \; oi kin t'ur'i is provided for in the regulations. a.m.! further the Government more in the v,ay of an,-»cr~ ing inquiries than its •.trie* attention rcguiatioi;~ would warrant. If ;,U inquirer, nor. tin- n.'X! of kin. establishes his Haim ter nMunre. as a relative. to iofoi mat!c>n . the ;n><<rllruS ion i,giveti Jf po.WtMe. j - _ j