PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12069, 26 July 1917, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

(Abridged from Press Association.)

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. "Wednesday, Jttlt 25. AFTERNOON - SITTING. Tho Council met. at 2.30 p.m. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. The Hon T. Mac Gibbon was granted a week's leave of absence, and the Council decided to send him a message of congratulation on tho attainment of the fiftieth anniversary of his marriage. ADDKE3S-IN-REPLY. Sir Francis Bell announced that tho Address-in-Rcply would bo presented next day to the Governor-General. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, Jt?lt 2C. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House mot at 2.30 p.m. FIRST READING. Tho "W'airoa Harbour Bon.nl Endowment Bill (Sir John Findby) was introduced and read a first time. MINES REPORT. The Minister of Mines laid on the table the annual report of the Mmc 3 Department, which provided a lengthy discussion on mining matters. QUESTIONS. In reply to questions Ministers stated that in the event of a general election being held in this country, the necessary legislative provision would bo made to enable our soldiers abroad to record their votes. That tho. scalo on which reinforcements are sent by New Zealand is exactly that asked for by the Imperial Government. It is th B same us that} stated in the Houso of Commons lasi} year, as proved by experience to bo necessary for tho British army in France. The rate is 15 per cent per month for infantry and less for other arms. That at- present it is not possible to return men to New Zealand who have served three years at the front. That last year's final sheep returns showed an increase of 293,042 breeding ewes, as compared with the preceding year. Only interim sheep returns for this year had yet been published, but it was expected that the final returns would show a further increase in the number of breeding ewes, and a substantial increase in the total number of sheep tho Dominion, as compared with last year. The whole matter of dealing with next season's production of freezing stock is at piesent receiving very careful consideration. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The debate was resumed by Mr Nosworthy, who defended tho Btay of Ministers in Britain, where they did invaluable work, especially in the direction of securing shipping to take away the Dominion's produce. If these facilities failed, as an outcome of the war, farmers should always remember that the country had three prosperous years, mainly as tho result of the exertions of the" men who, for the time being, wore, at the heart of tho Dominion's affairs. At the time the National Government was formed, ho was opposed to the coalition, but accepted tho position with the best grace possible, and since had given the Government his most loyal support. He, however, looked forward to tho iimo when they could resume party government, under which he was satisfied the country would experience more efficient government. (A report of Mr Nosworthy's speech appears in another column.)

Mr Jennings ventured the opinion that if tlio House had appointed a, war committor «'tt the outset of tho war to assist the Minister of Defence military matters would have been conducted in a manner more satisfactory to all concerned. "While complimenting tho Minister on the efficiency with which he had conducted the affairs of his Department, the speaker demanded that officers making criminal blunders towards our men should bo .summarily dismissed. He quoted an instance where a man, ill in hospital in France, was actually sentenced as a deserter, hut so far as he knew, the officers who had so traduced one of our brave soldiers had not been punished. Better hospital provision should be made for back block settlers'" wives, and a strenuous effort: should bo made to relieve the cost of living. So far as dairy farmers were concerned, he thought their troubles arose mainly from the excessive price of land. The buttor-fat levy was a grievance, not so much because of the amount, but because they were treated exceptionally. He regretted this differentiation, as if all other sections of the community had been treated in tho same way the farmer would never have objected to pay what was asked of him.

Mr Parata thought the National Government was not doing as well as it ought, and he hoped that after hearing the speeches in this debate Ministers would not hesitate to make more generous provision for soldiers' pensions. Ho had heard many complaints from returned men. There seemed to be n "taihoa" policy in existence. Tt should not be their place to run about, looking for pensions; it was our duty to look after them. Soldiers should not be settled on mountain tops. Wo should have given them of our bestwe could not do more—for they had given of their best for us. Tho Maoris had put aside forty thousand acres of second-class land for tho benefit of their countrymen fighting beside their pakeha brethren, and he would like to see some rich Europeans do tho same for their boys in return for tho great sacrifices made at Gallipoli and elsewhere. He paid a spirited tribute to the magnificent work of the Navy in tho great war, protecting sea routes, conveying troops, carrying munitioiis and maintaining communication with the outposts of the Empire. All this proved tho wisdom of New Zealand presenting tho Mother Country with a battleship, which played such a glorious part in the Heligoland fight and Jutland battle. The speaker censured the Government for not tackling the cost of living. The action of Mr MacDonakl in reducing the cost of butter was tho only effort made to cope with the problem, and tho complaints of farmers were altogether unjustified. After dealing with the taxation of the "wool kings," who were making a big war profit, ho strenuously denounced six o'clock closing, which would be a gross injustice to a trade recognised by law. On the motion of Mr Walker, the debate was adjourned, aud tho House rose at 10.45 p.m.