PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9672, 10 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 9. The Legislative Council met this afternoon. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Land Settlement Finance Bill. Hon. W. W. McCardle seconded the motion. The debate was interrupted by the dinner adjournment.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In the House this afternoon the Education' Committee reported on the petitions asking for a continuance of the week end railway passes for teachers, and rec. mmended the same to the favourable c< nsideration of the Government. The Naval Defence Bill was taken in Committee.^ Mr J. Allen (Bruce) asked what stepajwere being taken in regard to the following matters: —Extension of Calliope Dock, Auckland, to enable it to accommodate an Indomitable, erection of additions to the dock, Wellington, provision for repair yards, and manufacture of ammunition in the Dominion.

Messrs Luke and Poole expressed the opinion that the Calliope Dock required to be extended. Mr W. P. Massey said that the matter was an important one. It ought to be remembered, however, that there was good dock accommodation in Hong Kong, which would meet the requirements of the Dominion flagship while in China seas. Mr F. E. Baume (Auclsand East) urged that steps should.,Jbe taken to organise a proper system of naval volunteering. *5 Sir Joseph Wajs, in'reply, said that he had been in communication with the chairman 6if the 1 Wellington and Auckladn Harbour Boards in regard to docks, but the responsibility lay with the Admiralty and the Auckland Harbour Board, it having been decided that Auckland should be a naval base. A naval volunteer system could best be discussed when the Naval 'Bill was before the House. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment of the House at 5.30 o'clock.