POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12068, 25 July 1917, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July 24. EXAGGERATED PARLIAMENTARY REPORTING.

A paragraph in a Christchiirch newspaper suggesting that a ludicrous incident arose in the House on Friday through an effort to keep the debate going was strongly condemned by the Prime Minister to-day as inaccurate and exaggerated. Mr Talbot, who was described in the paragraph as having to be stimulated by the Government Whips to keep up his speech till after supper, said he wished to call the Government's attention to the article, as it was an unjust reflection on Parliament. His chief difficulty, ho remembered, was to get all his points in within the hour.

Mr Massey: One statement was correct, anyhow, that being that Mr Talbot made a good speech (laughter). As to the other statements, he was assured by the Chief Whip that there was no such effort to keep Mr Talbot on his feet. If Parliament was to be 'reported it should bo reported accurately. He noticed a tendency in a few instances to exaggerate. The report did not do justice to Mr Talbot or the House, and if this continued Parliament would have to protect itself. NO BOUNTIES. A suggestion that when New Zealand soldiers are transfered to the Imperial Forces after long service they should receive a. bounty made by Mr Jennings, who stated that this was a regular practice in the British Army. The Minister of Defence replied that the Dominion paid no bounty, as it wished to discourage New Zcalanders leaving their own force. Mr Jennings declared that they had to do so, otherwise they got no advancement. ISLAND COMMUNICATION. Sometimes, said Mr Glover in the House to-day, persons' wishing to visit outlying islands from Rarotonga have to wait two or three months for a schooner. The member asked Dr Pomare. Minister in Charge of the Cook Group, if he would see that the Union Company provided the necessary communication instead of sending out a steamer only fit for coal, which could not carry passengers. Dr Pomare replied that the Government subsidised a schooner for the purpose indicated by the questioner. MEDALS FOP, MOTHERS.

Dr Thacker quoted a.s a good idea the Australian system of granting medals to mothers, wives or nearest family relatives of members of the Australian forces. He urged the Minister of Defence to follow this example, hut Sir James Allen declared that he did not believe the mothers would like it. He could not see his way to carry out the suggestion.

CLASSIFYING THE WOUNDED. In answer to a question from Mr Poole to-day, the Defence Minister explained the classification of wounded in British hospitals. He stated that the worst cases are described a,s seriously wounded and then come those listed as dangerously wounded. For these there is considered to be every chance of recovery. Those described as being only slightly wounded, would in all probability go back to the front. When a nifin improved from being seriously wounded he wa,s moved to the dangerously wounded list, which enabled his friends to see that he was improving. THE PAMPERED ALIEN.

In the course of speaking in the debate on the Address-in-Reply to-day, Mr Vernon Reed raised a strong protest against allowing men of alien race, who were not eligible for enlistment by reason of nationality, to acquiro farming allotments in different parts of the country while New Zealand boys wore away fighting tho Empire's enemies. He gave point to his indignation on tho subject by declaring that in North Auckland Peninsula there were numbers of these aliens securing areas of land. In one instance, he said, they wero getting a choice of farming sections right oft the line of the future railway, to the future detriment of New Zealand-born men now at tho war. (Cries of '"Shame!") "It is a shame," agreed Mr R-eed, " and the Government should stop the present purchasing of land by those people, while our own boys are away at the front." (Hear, hear.) BENZINE EXPLOSIONS. Mr Poole asked the Minister of Marine to-day whether ho would have exhaustive inquiries made respecting accidents in steamers laden with benzine, with the object of finding how to minimise them. Tho Hon G. W. Russell assured tho member that tho Marine Department was giving close attention to tho subject of benzine explosions, particularly the one on the Arahura off Gisborno two months ago. There had not been sufficient experience in the matter of inflammable oils yet in this country. Mr Poole: We are getting a few hints. (Hear, hear.) Mr Russell replied that the Department had come to the conclusion that regulations would at once have to be issued making it a penal offence for any person to approach stores of inflammable oil with a naked light. That was the firs-t step which would be taken. WORTHY OF GRATITUDE. In the course of his speech tonight the Hon A. L. • Herdman contended that it was a blessing to New Zealand"* when the leaders of the two rival parties decided to combine for the purpose of carrying on tlie Government. No Government could have performed tho work achieved since the war without unity arid they deserved the lasting gratitude of the community for having sunk political differences. Any impartial judge must admit that the service these gentlemen had rendered had bee t of inestimable benefit to the country. (Hear, hear.) AUCKLAND POSTAL INQUIRY. Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., who has been requested to hold an inquiry into the Rev Howard Elliott's allegations against Auckland postal officers of intercepting communications, left Wellington for Christchurch to-night. He wilT return in time to reach Auckland to open the inquiry en Monday.