PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3217, 15 June 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OP representatives; By Telegrapn—Press Association. WELLINGTON,-Jun,e 14. , The House met at 10.30 a.m. Free immigration for domestic servants was the subject of several largely-signed petitions from vario". S parts of the Dominion. The National Sick andAccid-t Insurance Bill was given notice of by Mr Laurenson on behalf of he Speaker. Notice was given by Mr G. W. Russell to ask the Prime Minister when the Civil Service classification scheme will be completed. Mr Field gave notice to ask the Government when it will take in hand the work of preventing the spread of noxious weeds. Mr M'Laren gave notice to ask the Minister of Labour whether he would consider the possibility of providing Government registry offices in country districts. The Premier moved that the House confirms the offer of the Government to the Imperial Navj\ He had, he said, already given all the information on the subject. On .the House resuming at 2.30 o'clock, Mr Herries said that he held that the relationship between the Mother Country and colonies would have to be revised. The colonics should be the allies of Britain, hot dependencies. Mr Fraser approved of tne Govern-, ment's offer of a Dreadnought in the circumstances without convening Parliament. Mr Reed supported the motion. •Mr Sidey spoke in favour of a united Imperial Navy as opposed to Mr Herries suggestion of a local navy. Mr Guthrie, while supporting the offer, protested against the unconstitutional manner in which the offer was made. Mr Jennings supported the motion. Mr Ngata said the Opposition had given grudging support to the Government's offer of a Dreadnought. The House rose at 5.30 o'clock. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Lang considered that the giving of the Dreadnought without consulting Parliament created a bad precedent. Mr Herdman said that the Dreadnought "would be an additional burden on the people, though he did not ob-; ject to it if it was necessary. He thought Britain should say to Germany, "Halt," or declare war and crush her rival. Messrs Hine and Duncan held that the offer was justified. The Premier replied, and said that the charge of unconstitutional procedure betrayed a lack of knowledge on the part of those making it. He spoke scornfully of the tiddley-wink-ing efforts at naval defence advocated by He was prepared to bring down proposals a.3 soon as he knew what was wanted, and also to introduce a Bill dealing with military training, and he recognised his great responsibility in attending .the G'onferenc?, which would establish an epoch in the Empire's history. The future of th) Dominion was not depend nt on internal defences, but on the fate of the British Navy! The motion wis cirried on the voices.