PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3213, 12 June 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jane 11. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. This afternoon the Council adjourned in order to be present at the Address-in-Reply to His Excellency the Governor. On resuming the Governor's reply was read, and the Council adjourned until 10.30 to-mor-row morning. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 o'clock. Mr Forbes moved the Address-in-Reply to the Speech from the Throne, and outlined the wise, statesmanlike policy in connection with defence matters. Mr Taylor (Thames) seconded the motion. Mr Massey moved to strike out the line iri the Address-in-Reply affirming the desirability of an early prorogation of Parliament. . Mr Hardy seconded the amendment. Mr T. Mackenzie, in reply to Mr Massey, referred to the questions of finance, unemployment and naval defence. The last was the greatest qU3Bt.iori before the Empire to-day, and the position was exceedingly serious. Britain had never been 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. If the workers had a right to demand work,' the Government should have the right to instruct young people in industrial parts. Mr Allen drew a parallel between the financial cleaning up necessary to-day with that of 1887 due to the liovernment creating billets and determents which were not required, then casting out into the world men appointd to the positions. He charged the Premier with being unsound in. his policy in regard to the military defence of the Dominion. He hoped he would eome back with a well thought out scheme of military defence. The House rose at 5.30 o'clock. The House resumed at 7.3 C o'clock. Dr. Newman opposed the adjournment of the session on the grounds that urgent business required attention.' | Mr Poole dealt at length with the naval crisis, and urged the needs oj compulsory training. Sir J, G. Ward recapitulated the urguments in support of his representing the Dominion at the Conference, and the adjournment of Parliament. Regarding Mr Allen's statement re the financial cleaning up in 1887, the Premier said that he had been one of those who had helped the Atkinson Government in doipg so. Mr Allen had further said that the Government's financial position was not sound. He denied that entirely. Mr Fisher continued the debate at considerable length, after which the House rose.