HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7824, 17 June 1909, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON, June 16. ■ . The House resumed at 2.30; . Sir Joseph Ward continued his address by saying. that objection had been made to the investment of £800,000 savings bank deposits in Home securi- j ties. He held that this was a proper thing to dth The money was free and unpledged, and absolutely secure. The face value of these securities to-day was £868,000. '.Mr Massey denied that the Opposition was in favour of increasing the rate of interest oil advances to settlers by one half per cent. -' The Premier said the member for Taranaki had advocated an increase of a half per cent, on advances to settlers i ■. Mr Okey explained that he had said ifc would be better- for the settlers to pay ,a half per cent, more than to be left without money; The Premier' said Mr Oke.y made .that ..statement, knowing the debt had advanced to £1,790,000 during the last yeai'i The Bill was read a third time on the voices.

The report of the Native Land Commission of 1909 was ordered to be laid on the table, and to be printed. . Massey moved that the House, being satisfied that the existing volunteer system has proved inadequate for the defence of the dominion, is of the opinion that it ehould be replaced by, universal training for defence purposes. He said it. would be a good thing if the Premier could tell the Conference that New Zealand was not only prepared to . assist the Imperial Navy, but to. defend ourselves. The Premier suggested that, as he had already intimated, that the Government intended to submit proposals providing for defence, it would be better. to allow the motion to pass without debate, oh the understanding that •no- one was bound by it. The defen&e system would have to be materially altered, and he had already prepared, two separate schemes. Mr Wilford sked Mr Massey if he wduld accept an amendment as follows: After the word "opinion" read —"That" some system should be initiated by which the defence of t'hej dominion will be effectively carried' out." .

i Mr^ Brown seconded the amendment. , ■ Mr Russell moved the adjournment ! of the debate till the 21st of October. This would leave members free to discuss, the proposals to be placed ; before tho'House by the Government. - Mr T. E. Taylor (Christchurch) supported the motion for an adjournment, and, on the motion for an adjournment being put, it was carried by"44 to-29. I The report of the Commission on Addington workshops was ordered to lie' on the table, and be printed. The House then adjourned, pending the return of measures from the Legislative Council, and the receipt of a message from His Excellency the De-puty-Governor, Sir James Prendergast. •'■■ The House resumed at 4.30. The Speaker announced that the | Council had passed the Finance Bill without amendment, and a message was read from Sir James Prendergast, Deputy-Governor, announcing his assent to the Bill. The Premier said farewell to the House, and Mr Massoy said ho was confident that the Premier would represent the dominion creditably. The Speaker returned thanks for the felicitations of the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition, and said he hoped to see all in their places next session. On the motion of the Premier the House adjourned till 2.30 on Friday. . The House rose at 5.20.