Parliament

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 66, 6 August 1914, Page 4

Parliament

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Cauncijl met at 2.30 p.m. The Methodists Charitable and Edu c.'tion Amendment Bill was read a first time. On Mr. Ball's motion the Standing Orders were suspended to enable the Banking Amendment Bill to pass ttrough, all stages which it did without discussion. At 2.15 the Council' adjourned to en able members to be present at tile Governor's announcement. On resuming at 3.30 p.m., the Council passed i similar resolution and the House adjourned till 2.30 p.m. to-mor-row.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. Massey announced that Ministers had not had time to prepare answers to questions. Mr. Ngata pointed out that messages in Maori were prohibited' and he asked that the restriction be removed. The Postmaster-General said that he had nothing to do with the matter. They had acted on Imperial instructions. The Minister for Defence said he would do what was possible to remove the difficulties, but explained, that it ■was necessary to keep trace of mes-. SOgflß. Mr. Wiiford raised the question ol some contiol upon the advance of prices. Mr. Massey said he had a statement to make «lon the subject. The Govern ment had tried to get information as to Hour supplies, and he believed that there wr.s enough flour in the country to last until April. If any attempt were made to exploit the people the Government w.k prepared to ask Parliament to take »<iion.

Sir Joseph Ward said that if Mr Massey wculd introduce a Bill dealing with the question it would be passed i.uanim > isly. The House adjourned to enable mem bers to be present at the announcement made by tSii- Governor regarding the war. Ob resuming, after the usual routine business iiad been transacted, the Prerricr said tliat his had an important resolution f> move: 'Tb.M in view of the fact that Great Britain lias become involved in a 'car .with Germany, the House appro? ;s the necessary steps being taken bj the Government to have in realiness an expeditionary force." Mr. Massey continued that when dealing with the subject yesterday (he had quoted . a message from the Imperial Govern nent in which the opinion was expressed that an expeditionary forte would not be required at present. He emphasised thfe words "at present," because it appeared to him to indicate that suih «, force might bo required in the future.' The Government had no! dene anything, but were prepared. A serious _ responsibility had been placed upon tiie Government but they would do _tlu-ir duty. This was the time for action, not for speech. The Government proposed to mobilise part of the territorials, say seven or eight thousand). The men would be asked to vol ucteev "o;- service either bWe or abroad. He was certain that .if the men did go they wo ild give as good an account of themselves as in the dark days of the South African war. He had* no fear about '.raiting the men. He tad received ,- ores of letters from men vo'unteoring for service anywhere Unit might be -required. He couf'd also get many i.lioii<and.i. of the native race Who would be prepared to fight anywhere, but he was afraid the British regulations would liot permit this. There was no reason hc-wever, why they could not be utilised here, 'i'lie country and the Empire wanted peace, but not peace at any price. >le then moved the resolution which wai carried unanimously. Sir Jo;eph Ward declared that there was no room for a division of opinion in times such as these. An offer of an expeditionary force would not onjly bo valued for the sake of the men, bu'l on account of its moral effect.

The Houserosc until 2.30 p.m. tomorrow.