THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2498, 26 June 1915, Page 3

THE HOUSE

IMPREST SUPPLY PASSED A PARTY TRUCE. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. , Mr. Speaker read a letter from the Clerk of Writs informing him that Mr. W. T. Jennings had been elected a member of the House of Representatives. : v Mr. 0. J. Parr (Eden) gave notice of bis intention to move the Address-in-Reply. WAR BILLS COMING. Tha Hon. A. L. HERDMAN (Attor-ney-General) gave notice of his intention to introduce the Suspension of Disqualification During War Bill, the Enemy Contracts Bill, the Mortgages Extension Amendment Bill, the Regulation of Trade and Commerce Amendment Bill, the Statutes Compi ation Amendment Bill, the Trading With the Enemy Amendment Bill, and the War Regulations Amendment Bill. A DEFENCE COMMITTEE. The Hon. J. ALLEN gave notice to move that the following sccret committee be set up to (leal '.villi matters pertair,ing to defence: —The Right H°n. \V. F. Massey, the Hon. James Alien, tho Hon. A.*L. Herdroan. Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. R. H. Rhodes, the Hon. Dr. M'Nab, Messrs. D. U. Guthrie, A. H. Hindmarsh, B. P. Lee, A. M. Myers, and G. W. Russoll. . „ The Right Hon. W. F. MASSrA moved the first reading of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill. WAR BUSINESS. BILLS TO COME WITHOUT DELAY. SIR JOSEPH 'WARD (Leader of the Opposition) asked the Prime Minister whether he could givo an indication as to when the House would have submitted to it the measures dealing with the war mentioned in His Excellency s Specch. He wished, on behalf of members of the Opposition, to say that they were anxious to give the fullest assistance in tho passage of such legislation, but. they wished to be able to give these matters the fullest consideration. He thought these war measures should take piecedence over everything; else in this session of Parliament, and in order that members of the Opposition should bo able to assist the Government, it was important that these measures should be before members with as little delay as possiblo. Hn referred, of course, to the important measures dealing with tho crisis as distinct from detail measures such as those mentioned by the Attorney-General. The Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Primo Minister) said he wished to assure the Leader of tho Opposition and the House that the measures would bo submitted at ihe earliest possible moment. Most of them were ready now. The right honourable gentleman would realiso that one of the most important of tho Bills, the Loan Bill, must come down by Governor's Message, and it v.culd be submitted within a. day or two. It was intended that some of these Bills should be submitted to tho Defence Committee. He could assure honourable members that there would ho no dolay. He was glad to hear from the Leader of the Opposition that they intended to assist tho Government in

the passage of this most important legislation, and he could assure the hon- ! ourablo gentleman that the Government would bo glad to have all tho assistnnco they could give. IMPREST SUPPLY. ; EXCHANGE 01'" COURTESIES., I _ An Imprest Supply Bill (No. 1) was introduced at J.il) p.m. and it had passed tlirougli ali stages at 3.20 p.m. fcilit JOSEi'H WAUu (Leader at tho Opposition], at one 01 the later stages ot the Bill, mentioned that tho Prune Minister had clone him the honour of consulting iiim about the Bill, and ho I had agreed 011 behalf of tho Opposition . that the passage of the Bill would not be delayed, lie believed that it was jvell that 110 difficulty should be put in the way of Supply now so urgently required tor defence purposes. Alter tho Bill had passed, The PRIME MINISTER said ho wished to thank the honourable members of the Opposition for having allowed the Bill to go through speedily. The Government Jiad no desire to burk discussion, but he hoped this would not b6 the last time on whioh he would have the pleasure of acknowledging courtesy from his friends opposite. Silt JOSEPH WARD acknowledged the Prime Minister's reference to the Opposition. Speaking for his side of the House he wished to say that it was their wish to help the Government in everything that affected the war, and the defence of the Empire. The Government must accept responsibility for their policy. In that responsibility the Opposition could not 6nare, and he wished that to be clearly understood. MEN WHO HAVE DIED. TRIBUTES TO THEIR MEMORY. The Right Hon. W. F. MASSAY moved that the House record its high sense of the services rendered to New Zealand by the late John Bollard, and express sympathy with h's family in their bereavement. He referred to the deceased gentleman's career in some detail, mentioning that lie had represented Eden continuously for eighteen jears, and that he had been chairman of the Mount Eden School Committee for 51 years, and member of it for 54 years. Surely tills must constitute a world's record 111 all tho years he had been known for his gentle ways and his sturdy manliness—one of Nature's noble men. SIR. JOSEPH WARD (Leader of the Opposition) expressed his condolences with the relatives of the deceased gentleman. Mr. Bollard hud had many qualities which made him generally beloved in the House, and won for him universal respect. He regretted exceedingly that Mr. Bollard would not return to the councils of the Dominion. Mr. C. J. PARR (Eden), Mr. A. M. (Auckland East), and Sir. A. HARRIS (Wakemata) also spoke to the motion, which was affirmed. The PRIME MINISTER moved a similar motion respecting the death of Mr. Frank Yates Lethbridge, a former member of the House of Representatives for the constituencies of Rangitikei and Oroua. Mr. Massoy expressed his admiration of the personal good qualities of Mr. Lethbridge, which had made him respectcd of all men. SIR JOSEPH WARD expressed keen regret at the death of Mr. Lethbridge, a gentleman whom, though a political opponent, he had always held in high regatd. Mr. D. H. GUTHRIE (Oroua), who succeeded Mr. Lethbridge as representative of the seat, expressed his regret for tho death of an esteemed friend. The motion was carried. Similar motions were passed respecting the deaths of Mr. Felix Maguire, the Hon. William Montgomery, the Hon. Edward Richardson, C.M.G., the Hon. E. C. J. Stevens, tho Hon. Francis Arkwright-. SYMPATHY WITH THE HON. J. ALLEN. SIR JOSEPH WARD (Leader of the Opposition) asked permission, which was granted, to move that the House express sympathy with the Hon. J. Alien. Minister of Defence, and his wife and family for the loss suffered by the death in action at the Dardanelles oi Lieutenant J. H. Allen. Sir Joseph Ward referred to the high scholastic attainments of the late Lieutenant Allen, and said that his parents, had he lived, would naturally have expected for him the distinguished career that he would undoubtedly have had. But there could be 110 member of tho House who would not have desired his own son to die as Lieutenant Allen had—lighting for his King and Empire. The sincere sympathy of the House went out to the Hon. Mr. Allen and his family in their loss. He had died tho noblest death a man could die, but the expression of the sympathy of the House would be appreciated by Mr. Allen and his family as coining sinccrely from the members as a whole. The PRIME MINISTER, in seconding tho motion, thanked the Leader of the Opposition for the kindly thought that had prompted his action in the matter, 011 behalf of himself, bis party, and Mr. Allen. It went without saying that Mr. and Mrs. Allen had felt very keenly the loss of their soil. He had been a younu man of great promise and great intellectual ability, and bis parents had looked forward to a great career for him. His carcor had been cut short, but they had the knowledge that he had died for his country. Mr. Allen had said that he would sooner that his son had died doing his duty than that- he had shirked his duty and staved at home in safety. The war had brought sorrow into many homes, but all were proud of the country's young men, and future generations would reap the bonelit of tne gallant stand made by them 011 the other side of the world. Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon), 011 behalf of the rank and lile in the House, said that they entirely endorsed the remarks made by Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Massev. When death entered the home of one of the public men of the country ali party warfare ceased, and 0110 felt that for the time being there was a common bond of sympathy that united all. It was unfortunately true that that bond was now being felt throughout the whole country. In endorsing the sympathy expressed for Mr. Allen, one especially felt that the blow had come to one 011 whom the burden oi the work in connection with the organisation of tho Forces had fallen, and whatever party differences there mightbe. one had heartfelt sympathy for tho bereaved. Mr. A. S. MALCOLM (Clutlia) said that the people of Bruce, Mr. Allen's constituency, were his neighbours, and on behalf of his own constituents, as well as himself, lie desired to offer Mr. Allen his condolences. < The motion was carried in silence. 011 the motion of the Prime Minister, the House rose at -1.35 p.m., out of respect for the memory of the gentlemen mentioned.