IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1252, 7 October 1911, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

DAILY SUMMARY.

DEFENCE ESTIMATES PASSED,

In the House of Representatives yestoTday afternoon the first discussion of any importance was upon a recommendation of tihe Joint Library Committee that better provision should bo mado for the collection and preservation of doouments, books, pictures, etc., which have a bearing upon tho settlement and subsequent history of Now Zealand. Members united in applauding the suggestion that steps should be taken to form a comprehensive national historical collection.

Going into Committee of Supply, the House. spent the remainder of tho afternoon in considering the Land for Settle'ments Account. There was some comment by Opposition members upon the remission of ten per cent, of rent allowed to tenants of settlement lands. Mr. Fisher proposed an amendment based on the contention that rebate, if granted to farmers, should also bo granted to workers, under the workers' homes 6chemo, but it was ruled out of order by tho Chairman of Committees.

Mr. nine raised the question of land agents acting as intermediaries in transactions under the Land Settlement Finance Act The Hon. D. Buddo stated that farmers could easily do for themselves all that was required in the acquisition, of holdings under the Act, but thait the matter of the employment of intermediaries must.be left to tho settlers to determine for themselves. Towards the end of the afternoon sitting tho House discussed the question of providing small holdings for tho poorest class of settlers. Tho Estimates under the Land for Settlements and Forestry Acconnts were disposed of by 8.15 p.m., and those of the Defence Department were then takea. In the absenco of the Minister far Defence (Sir Joseph Ward), the task of seeing these important estimates through the Committee was undertaken by the Eton. J. A. Millar, whose readiness to answer questions and declare tho inten;ioos ■ i-f tho Government showed that ho had pTOfited by competent coaching. Tho un- ' easiness created by certain indications that-the Government does • not nu«n to "carry out in its entirety .the compulsory training scheme was voiced' ' by" several members.- Mr. Millar stated that the Government did not intend, except under Bpecial circumstances, to prosecute any more of those who refuse to register; that compulsory training would stop at the age of 22 years (instead of -5 as fix<*l by the Act); and that under those conditions it was anticipated that thero would be no difficulty in creating au rtTrctirc Territorial Force of 30,000 men. He also Baid that the Department would exercise too , discrimination as between man nn<J man, except on medical grounds. These announcements. did not appeir to givo complete satisfaction to those wlio h.-,{! elicited them, but.'speaking genra.ly, the .way in which the Defence votjs were dealt with, as regards the MinisterY r> adinesi to give information and *he pbsence of manifestations of party spirit, compared favourably with what had been oTserved when other classes, of the Estimates rvero before the Committee. ■■.-.;',•