THE SESSION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 207, 6 October 1914, Page 5

THE SESSION.

PROGRESS WITH BILLS.

THE COST OF THE WAR.

SYDNEY PAPER'S ESTIMATE. [From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 5. The House of Representatives met at 7.30 this evening. Leave was given to introduce the following Bills: — Orchards and Gardens Diseases Amendment and the Workers' Protection and Contractors Lien Amendment (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey). On the second reading of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Bill (Hon. Mr Massey), Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) expressed the opinion the Government should be careful, in view of the situation, of setting aside sums of money for such works as the drainage scheme. The opinion of the "Sydney Daily Telegraph," that the war would cost £10,000,000, he did not agree with. He had gone into the matter carefully, of course without the inside knowledge of the Government, and he believed that if the New Zealand Force were at the front for a year the cost would be about three and a half millions. Unless there was to be a considerable increase in our Expeditionary Forces, the cost would never reach ten millions. In reply, the Prime Minister said that* did not.think there was any fear of the Government not being able to finance the scheme. The second reading was carried on the voices. EDUCATION RESERVES. The Education Reserves Amendment Bill (Hon. J. Allen) was reada second time on the voices. RIVERS BOARDS AMENDMENT. The Rivers Boards Amendment Bill (Hon. A. L. Herdman) was read" a second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The House rose at 11.3 p.m.".