CABINET CRITICISED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12064, 20 July 1917, Page 4

CABINET CRITICISED.

MR WITTY SUSPECTS SNAKE IN GRASS.

SOME WAR PROBLEMS,

[From Ode Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, .July 19

"Tho National Government has a great chance," said Mr Witty in tho Address-in-Reply debate to-night. "The leaders have had the chance of their lives, so long as there are. no snakes in the grass in the Cabinet, otherwise their trip Home has Ixsen practically useless."

Jlogarding New Zealand's share in the war, Mr Witty declared that we would have :to do nioro with our wealth. i'or men, we must do our sharp, but not. more, otherwise the country would be depopulated. The time would come when the position would have to be reviewed. The Minister of Defence had failed to account for 3t>,000 men. "Where were they? Had any other Dominion been asked to send an extra brigade? Sir James Allen: Yes. Mr "Witty: Did they do it? Sir .Tames Allen : I don't know.

Mr Witty, continuing, asked why Ministers should shelter themselves in connection with hospital ship maladministration behind a person who could not be criticised in the House. "Wo can criticise Creation in this Chambrr," said Mr Witty, '' but there s one person we cannot name." Sir James Allen interjected that he took the responsibility for the hospital ships. Mr M'Callum: You are a brave man.

Mr Witty asked if it was a fair thing to have to beg men to grow wheat when men wero made to go to the front, 'jlie Government ought to bo equally determined on both questions. Our pensions were not equal to those of England. "Widows' pensions had been increased by 2s 6d weekly in England, though New Zealand, which was in a far better position, had done nothing. New South Wales had found homes for soldiers' widows, but New Zealand had dono nothing. Ho read a letter published in an Auckland newspaper irom a well-known New Zea lander, stating that a number of men had been returned from England unfit during the last four or five months, their pay alone costing about £oD,OOO. Tho speaker alleged that, there wore any amount of capes of men classed as being medically fit who wore re-examined ami classed C-2.

Sir James Allen : You hand the names to me.

Mr Witty quoted details of a case where a man discharged without a, pension failed to get reconsideration, though ho alleged that a portion of the medical statement was untrue. r lhe man appealed to him and he succeeded in getting the Minister to agree to an investigation, resulting in a pension of 2os to the soldier and ]os to his wife. Tho Minister ought not to stand by officers like that. The speaker criticised the Government for permitting toy soldiers to remain in New Zealand. The Government bad refused local camps on tlve ground tTiat the men would not get sufficient training, but it sent some men away with scarcely-any training. There was a cry from farmers that labour was short, but he doubted it. Ho quoted the case of a man who did team work on a farm, enlisted, and was put to clerical work for which he. was nnsuitrd. Another man, kept back because of his age, being fifty-two, was kept on, though bo would bo a very useful workman in private life. Tho speaker suggested that wealthy contractors for military supplies were let off gaol when they broke tho law, but a member of Parliament who had assisted the Minister and in a. hasty moment uttered seditious language, was sent to gaol because he was a poor man. Tho National Efficiency Board preached economy, but its ofßco cost £SOO to furnish. vAVhat was the use of all these boards, whose inability to control prices had been demonstrated over and over again P Discussing taxation, Mr Witty suggested following America by putting neavy imposts on wealthy men and taxation on bachelors and pleasures.