PARLIAMENT

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 December 1913, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE-.

The Hon. J. Allen moved the second reading of the Naval Defence Bill. In a speech dealing with the bill itself, he drew attention to the provision for t'ransfer to the British Government of the naval force in times of hostilities for all essential purposes. The men were under the control of the Home Government. it was our business to work in with Australia as far as possible.

New Zealand men may be transferred to China or other stations for training service. New Zealand should recognise the necessity for control by the British Admiralty as the necessary presence of one control. B*e did not think New Zealand, Australia, Africa and Canada should leave everything- in future,'to the sole control of the Admiralty. They should take steps to formulate some controlling authority comprising representatives from the dominion. The future of this country was in the hands of the future" Parliaments. - All the country was committed to was £100,000. Up to September, 1913, the imports were £23,000,000, and exports £24,000,000. It was time our trade was efficiently protected. Sir Joseph Ward said some of the proposals were" of a most dangerous character. r J,'hc question should be looked at from an empire point of view, and not-from the dominion point of view. What he had doue for New Zealand while at Home had been endorsed by the. highest men in the Admiralty, and was diametrically opposed to the policy of i Australia, though he agreed that thev had their own destinies to work out.