THE UPPER HOUSE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 2, 25 September 1937, Page 3

THE UPPER HOUSE

PresB Association.)

N.Z.'s Defence Needs i

(By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m., when the Church of England Amendment Bill and the Wellington Diocesan Board of Trustees, Church oi England, Empowering Bill, were read a first time. Continuing the Address-in-Keply de^ bate, Hon. W. Perry discussed the inter* national situation and advocated action on the part of New Zealand to meet her obligation under the Covenant oi the League of Nations. He expressed appreciation of the Government 's c-fforts to improve the defence fdrces ofthe Dominion, and said he hoped the young- men of the country would respo'nd to the call for recruits. Discussing population,' which, he said, was an integral part of the defence situation, he said the declino in the birth rate would have to be checked or the country Avould beeome decadent. The main cause of the decline was obviously the prevalence of abortion, and Government members should ^peak against the evil from every platform in the country. He was a strong supporter of the jury system, he said, but had been forced to the cpnclusion that those charged with abortion should. either be .tried without a jury or before a jury empowered . to convict on a nine to three verdict. An increase in family allowances would also check the evil. . Hon. H. A. Eussell also-spoke on the ■ need for defence and said the Governrnent should vote money to encoureige ■the breeding of:horses for military pur- ■ poses. He Hnderstood they would do so, and that part of the money voted would be spent on importing stud stock. It had' been said that the day of the horsa in. warfare was over, because of the cse Pf gas, but he did not think so. The liorse would always be useful in certain country. Hon. F. E. Lark said he agreed that , lofcnce measures were necessary while .ither cduntries were arming, but he onsidered that' au efl'ort should be madc o take 'the manufacturo of war inater!al out of private hands. If that could ue done, it would be a step towards peaee. The debate. vas adjourned at 4.15 antil Wcdjiesday. vwJ