IMPREST SUPPLY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1530, 28 August 1912, Page 8

IMPREST SUPPLY.

SPEECHES BY MASTERS AND OPPOSITION LEADERS,

FINANCE* STATE" COAL & RAILWAY ■ .HATTERS. .

Almost tha first business submitted to Parliament yesterday was the third Im- , prest Supply Bill of the session and it gave rise to n somewhat disjointed debate. The Hon. R. M'Kenzie opened tho discussion with a detailed defence of the State Coal Department. Sir Joseph Ward mado a Budget debate speech. Tho Hon. James Allen, in reply, stating that the Government would not continue the hand-to-mouth policy of tho late Govern-' ment. He hoped the X 1,750,000 loan would suffice to carry on the Government /or /virtually two • years. Mr. A. J[. Myers defended his share in the i] million'loan. Several other leading members on'both sides argued, more or less at cross purposes, on points already raised. The Hon. I'\ M. '.B. Fisher spoko of the failure of the Mackenzie Government to .make a beginning with the reforms which they were now so strenuously advocating. The debate continued until 12.30 a.m., and then the Hon. James Allen rose to reply. He had much ground to travel, and he could tarry long at no point. Mostly he gave his attention to correcting misapprehensions likely to ariso from misleading statements made in criticism. He finished his reply at 1-a.m. The Bill -was allowed to pass its third reading, and the House adjourned at 1.5 a.m. In the Legislative Council the debate on the Legislative Council's Elections Bill wa9 continued. /.At 9.30 p.m. the\debato was adjourned till 2.30 o'clock this afternoon.::-.