PARLIAMENT.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7719, 13 May 1916, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

GOSSIP FROM THE GALLERIES. LUXURIES v. NECESSITIES. (Special to “Mail.”) WELLINGTON, Tbis day. One effect of tile prosperous period which the farmer is experiencing is the marked increase in the motor car trade, and dealers find it hard to fill orders. But this is not' the aspect which is troubling Mr Poole (Auckland West). It is the question of shipping, and he is asking the Minister of Commerce, “whether, in view of the shortage of oversea tonnage and the abnormal importation of motor-ears from the Pacific Coast for the relief of some of onr famishing citizens, he will undertake to see that material of more vital importance is not shut out by preference for luxuries.” Mr Poole mentions that Great Britain has found it necessary to limit the importation of certain goods, and as there is a great danger of shortage in paper,' oil, etc., some steps should be taken along the same lines by New Zealand. THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE. Speaking on Mr Payne’s motion for the introduction of a Rent Bill, Mr Wilford made it the occasion for some very plain talk in regard to the Hon. J. Allen, Minister for Defence. “I believe,” declared Mr Wilford, “that the Minister is the hardest worker in this country; No Minister works more patiently or more readily hut he has no soul and no heart. He is a •man with a big opportunity who has failed. The fate of the Empire and the Dominion does not depend upon keeping any one member in office, I make this suggestion: Let the Minister of Defence drop his portfolio and take any other; let them appoint any other member from the Prime Minister’s side in order to keep the equation right. The Minister of Defence is out of touch with public opinion. He is not in touch with public views. He is a hard-hearted man.” On the Prime Minister questioning the order of the procedure, the Speaker intervened, and Mr Wilford did not pursue the subject, but it is fair to assume that the last has not been heard of it. WAR PENSIONS.

Important proposals are made in the War Pensions Amendment Bill just circulated. Tile provisions of the principal Act are extended to members of the Expeditionary Force prior to their departure from New Zealand and also to persons engaged in New- Zealand on military service in connection with the war. ’The pension of a female dependent of a member of the force is to cease on her marriage. The parents of deceased soldiers receive more liberal treatment hv having all age limitations omitted (the principal Act provided for mothers to he over 50 and fathers over 55 before being entitled to pensions) and this provision is extended to parents of disabled as well as of deceased soldiers. The pension of a widowed mother whoss son was the sole support shall not ill any case he less than would have been payable to tho wife. A new principle for the computation of pensions provides that the pension payable to a. member of the forces or to his wife or child of such member shall not take into consideration the property or income from any source of the applicant. In the case of dependents other than wives or children the property and income shall he taken into consideration. The definition of “dependent” in the original Act. is widened to provide that the Board may grant a pension to a person who satisfies the Board that by reason of a soldier’s death or disablement he has suffered material loss of income or property on general lines. The pensions commence as on the date of death or from the date of discharge, although the Board is allowed to fix dates in special cases. A special clause provides that where the applicants are recipients of pensions from the Imperial or other authorities in resneet of lliis war (other than pensions attached to honors) such amounts shall he deducted from the sum to which they are entitled. This section is retrospective in its action. An important clause abolishes the schedules of the original Act which set a maximum to the pensions which could be drawn. LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES. Mr George Hunter, member for Waipawa, has given notice to ask the Prime Minister whether the Government will consider the question of dealing with the difficulty that lias been caused by certain life insurance companies refusing to pay out policy moneys due to the relatives of soldiers reported killed by Courts of Inquiry. WANT-OF-CONFIDENCE MOTION. The irrepressible Mr Payne got busy with a no-confidence motion tonight, but failed to get a seconder. He charged the Government with having failed in its defence administration and in having failed to deal adequately with the cost of living problem. He also spoke strongly on what he termed the pro-German feeling amongst the authorities, and denounced those responsible for the apathy they had displayed.