PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10409, 1 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

By Telegraph—Press Association.

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m.

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

The Hon. J. Rigg resumed the adjourned debate on the motion of appreciation of the services of the Prime Minister and Sir Jolm Findlay at the Imperial Conference. While complimenting Sir John Findlay upon his elaborate explanation of the doings of the Conference, 'he expressed disappointment that the latter had not given more information respecting Sir Joseph Ward's Imperial Council proposals. The Legislature should have been informed of the reasons which influenced Sir Joseph Ward in bringing them forward. He felt sure the proposals would never be accepted by the New Zealand Parliament.

The Hon. Mr Wigram, in offering congratulations to the Attorney-Gen-eral, deprecated the tendency to make superannuation for Party prestige. He was unable to express an 1 opinion upon an Imperial Federal Parliament, but he felt that representation could not be on a population basis or tHiat of contributions to the' Imperial navy. Sir John Findlay, replying to the Hon. J. Rigg's criticism, said there appeared to be some misapprehension as to what was actually proposed by Sir Joseph Ward in regard to the creation of an Imperial Parliament. Sir Joseph recognised that a change was impending in the constitutional system, and that devolution was in the air. It appeared to the Prime Minister that the time was ripe for the discussion of some scheme of federation, embracing all the Dominions and the Motherland. It was clearly indicated that all the power to be delegated to the new Imperial Parliament was the power to provide for Imperial defence, and that the control of internal defence remain absolutely in the hands of each Dominion. With these limited powers there would be no danger to local antonomy. So long as the scheme devised fixed our contributions at what we would willingly give, it did not matter whether they were imposed by an Imperial Parliament or a local Parliament. The motion was carried unanimously, and the Council adjourned until Wednesday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tlie House of Representatives met at 2,30 p.m.

PAPAKAIO WATER RACE BILL,

The Piapakaio Water Race Bill was reported from Committee.

SECOND READINGS.

The Greyfown Town Lands and Hospital Lands Exchange Bill (Mr Buchanan), Oamaru Municipal Exchange and Market Reserve Leasing Bill (Mr Duncan), Wanganui Harbour Board Vesting Bill (Mr Hogan), and the Sir Donald McLean Memorial Park Bill (Mr Brown) were read a second time.