LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2504, 3 July 1915, Page 7

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

"WAR BILLS PASSED

THE MUNITIONS PROBLEM

Tlie Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. The Public Revenues Amendment Bill (the Loan Bill), the Public Expenditure Validation Bill, and the- .War Regulations Amendment Bill wore received from tho Houso of Representatives, put through all stages without amendment, and passed. The Hon. W. EARNSHAW moved: "That this Council urges .the Government to take into its serious consideration the need;of setting up a commission of experts or a Parliamentary Committee to report -upon (a) the manufacture of munitions in the Dominion, arid (b) the need of sending some small contingents of artisans, to assist in the munition workshops of Great Britain." He explained that, he knew it to ho absolutely impossible to manufacture shells here, but he {'hought we should send home a contingent of 200 or 300 artisans to work in the munition factories or in the shipyards. For artisan labour there was an unlimited demand at Homo.

SIR FRANCIS BELL said the Government had offered to send skilled men, but the Imperial Government had refused to accept - them. It seemed that the , offer was more embarrassing than advantageous.' If the Imperial Government should at ' any time in future ask for aid of this kind the New Zealand Government would be glad to render such aid as was passiblo. But in the face of the Imperial Government's refusal, the New- Zealand Government could not worry the ( Home authorities by repeating the offer. The Hon. W. EARNSHAW suggested that the Government should send a contingent of artisans Home "on their own," and subsidise their earnings at Home to make them up to New Zealand rate 3of pay. The men would get work very easily, and they would get no subsidy unless they worked. In deference to the expressed wishes of several honourable members he asked to withdraw his motion. The motion was. withdrawn accordingly. SIR, FRANCIS BELL said that at its rising he would ask the Council to adjourn -until 9.30 on Saturday morning in .order that members might proceed .to Government House to present, the Address to His Excellency, and after that to adjourn until Wednesday, . The Council rose at 4:45 p.m s