PARLIAMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9470, 12 June 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Per Press Association. Wellington, June 13. SATURDAY, Jnne 12th. The Council met at 10.30. la answer* to Mr Rigg, the Attorney-General said he was not prepared to say when the Dreadnought motion would come on. Mr Rigg urged the necessity of giving notice, as if it was brought on by surprise he might deem it his duty to object. The Council then adjourned till Monday morning.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FRIDAY, June 11th. The House met at 2 30. Mr Forbes moved the Addreas-in-Reply to the Speech from the Throne. He outlined the wise and statesmanlike policy in connection with defence, and said the effect of Sir Jnseph Ward’s presence at the Imperial Defence Conference would be very good. It would be unfair to the Premier to continue the ■ session in his absence, in view of the important legislation to be dealt with. Mr Taylor (Thames) seconded. He said the time had come for a change in the British Navy. The coming conference wonld bo 'the beginning of the change. Mr Massey moved to strike out the line in the Addresa-in-Reply affirming the desirability of the early prorogation of Parliament. The country was waiting for social and laud legislation. He was anxious, like the member for Hurnnui, to break up the land monopoly, but the Government was the greatest land monopolist. He protested against the adjournment of the session till October. Australia and Canada were not sending their Prime Ministers to the Conference. Emphasis had been laid on the necessity of the Premier being present in Parliament to explain the policy. What was their policy? They had none at the general election. Their policy was to retain office at any price. He criticised the recent Ministerial appointments in a humorous style. In connection with the construction of the Eoxburgh-Lawrence railway line the Government had made a serious mistake. They should have known before asking for £BO,OOO whether the line would, pay. People were leaving the colony in hundreds every week. Sixteen hundred left last month in excess of arrivals. Mr Massey, after touching on native land aud other questions, referred to the Second Ballot Act, and asked what it had cost? The effect of the Gaming Act had been to make New Zealand a paradise for spielers. The gaming legislation was faulty, and he hoped it would be remedied. He did not intend his amendment as a want of confidence motion, hot simply as a protest against the postponement of the session. Mr Hardy seconded the am endm&nt.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie, in reply to Mr Massey, referred to the questions of finance, unemployment, and naval defence, The last was the greatest question before the Empire to-day. The position was exceedingly serious. Britain was never so defenceless as now. In the event of Great Britain being involved in a struggle with Germany .there was nothing to hinder the Eastern nations attempting to wrest New Zealand from us. There were indications of a revival of industry in the Dominion. Ho advocated greater attention to the primal industries. If the workers had the right to demand work the Government should have the right to instruct young people in the industrial arts.

Mr Allen drew a parallel between the financial cleaning up necessary to day with that of 1887, due to the Government creating billets and departments which were not required, and then casting out into tlie world the men appointed to the positions. The German naval development was not so much aimed at Britain as it was intended to aid her influence in world politics. He charged the Premier with being unsound on the military defence of the Dominion, and hoped he would come back with a well-thought-out scheme of military defence. Mr Wilford quoted British and foreign papers in support of the contention that Germany’s naval scheme was solely directed against Britain. It was a diplomatic axiom that if a great national ideal oould be fostered it would have the effect of swamping small dissensions. In 1903 the Socialists in Germany swept the board at the elections. This and other causey led the Kaiser to spread the idea that Britain was about to attack, Germany. The Kaiser next engineered the Balkan crisis. The House rose at 5.30.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Wilford, continuing, recalled the time when the Kaiser was the guest of King Edward, [and tha former made the famous speech In which the statement was made “Blood is thicker than water.” At the same time' the Reichstag was voting 200 million sterling on its naval programme. If British shipbuilding depended on German assurances, Britain wonid be left behind. The German navy and army were kept in a state of preparation for war, while the British was maintained on a peace footing. Mr Newman opposed the adjournment of the session on the grounds of urgent business requiring attention. Mr Poole dealt at length with the naval crisis, and urged the need for compulsory training. Sir Joseph Ward said it had been a very interesting debate. He recapitulated the arguments in support of bis representing the Dominion at the Conference, and the adjournment of Parliament. The conference had been called by the Imperial Government after the Dominion had made the offer of a Dreadnought. The statement had been made that people were leaving the Dominion. The number of people who had left during the past month was not above the average. In 1909 the arrivals till May amounted to 18,119, and the departures 17,441. In 1908 the total arrivals were 18,500, and the departures 16,700, During the last ten years our gain in population from outside was about 120,000, Regarding Mr Allen’s statement re the financial cleaning up in 1887, the Premier said he < was one of those who helped the Atkinson Government in doing so. Mr, Allen had farther said the Government’s financial position was' not sound. He denied that entirely. The position of Mr Ngafea was perfectly constitutional, and one in accordance With precedent. He denied Mr Alley’s statement that lie (tL.c

Premier) had scoffed at Australia’s defence proposals. Sir Joseph Ward GPPtiga his statement afc tne Imperial Conference in regard to the military defence of the Dominion, and advocated uniformity tbrcrglionS the Empire in volunteer and ether defence forces. Regarding Mr Allen’s suggestion that Now Zealand and I .Australia rhould have navies of their own, the Premier quoted an authority acr Stating it would be 50 years before the Australian navy would be of any use. Sir John Colomb had called it a squirt, it was cur bonnden duty help the British Government to bring the Navy to a state of efficiency, He concluded with an appeal to parties to sink all differences on IbiSiquestion.

Mr Fisher continued the debate at considerable length, after which Mr Bnick moved the adjournment. Sir Joseph Ward gave notice to move that this House approve the action of the Government in its offers of assistance to the Imperial Navy in the terms conveyed to the Home Government in the despatch of 27th March. The House rose at 11. SO. The House met at 10,§<D. The debate on the Address inReply was continued by Mr Bnick, who said it was the duty of the House to confirm Government’s offer of a Dreadnought, though be considered it should first have been submitted to Parliament. He believed the Premier would learn a lesson or two afc Home. It was a great pity fcbe business should not go on in his absence. He held that' young men were leaving the country because they had no chance here. Mr Luke said ha would fight for the amount claimed, and be an independent member. The Premier was putting the interests of the party before those of the Country. He strongly condemned the adjournment of the session. Mr Hogg referred to the remarks by the Opposition on his own and his colleagues [position. He denied that they were dumb dogs. He had not sought his present [position. He charged the Leader of the Opposition with seeking to accompany the Premier Home. He regretted the fact that men were out of work, but no attempts were made to reduce wages.

In the House Mr Hogg expressed himself strongly on the subject of land monopoly and contended that it was large estates that were largely responsible for the present distress. Land settlement would have to go on side why side with land taxation. He had always regarded land monopoly as a crime. He explained his remarks regarding a note issue by the State. His idea was to make capital as plentiful as possible. Mr Buchanan *%aid lie was in a position to prove that the suggestion that Mr [Massey should accompany the Premier emanated fromgthe Government side. The Premier said lie could prove otherwise. Mr Buchanan went on to criticise Mr Hogg’s speech and said he would be better employed settling Crown and opening Native lands than lecturing the Opposition. He hoped the Premier 3 wonld frankly state what he felt himself empowered to do at the Conference. The House adjourned till 3.30.