Parliament.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42779, 16 September 1905, Page 2

Parliament.

[By Telegraph.—Press Association.] Wellington', This day. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Ships and Offices Bill read second time. 'SOUSE OF REPRESEN I’ATI Vi 3, Afier the Public Works Statement -v is laid on tho table the House weDt roto Committe of Supply for further consideration of the General Estimates. Che v..te for the Sta;e Fores ry Dei> :runent was under discussion until d. iner adjournment. The Estimates were under discussion during tho whole evening. Votes for State Forest Department, Government Printing Office, Mental Hospitals, and the Charitable Department were passed unaltered. The Defence Department Estimates gave rise to:lengthy discussion. Mr Seddon, dealing with the harbour defences, said in view of t lie long range of guns they had to improve armam >nts, which would be done at Auckland and Wellington. The commandant objected to the slow propress of work and in this i connection the Government proposed to ask the House for an increased vote to enable the work to bo carried out expeditiously as he estimated. It was proposed to continue the term of office of Major-General Babington as Commandant of tho forces, which will expire next year. The total vote passed unaltered as also did the vote for tho Railway Department.