AFTERNOON SITTING.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13613, 23 December 1909, Page 7

AFTERNOON SITTING.

Tho House resumed at 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions. Ministers sffited: That Lord Kitchener had accepted the invitation to visit New Zealand, and suitable arrangements for inspection of the military forces by him would be made when the date of his visit was ascertained. That the proposals submitted by the Imperial Government to the Overseas Dominions in regard to the formation of an Imperial General Staff could not be laid on the table of the House. In reply to Mr JAMES ALLEN'S question asking what action the Government intended to take in regard to Mr Justico Edwards's remarks on the Consolidated Statutes, tho PRIME MINISTER said that he had communicated with tho members of the Consolidation Commission, and quoted their letters in reply, which admitted the truth of Mr Justico Edwards's statement that the Commissioners did into odtfte changes into the Consolidated Acts without specifically calling attention thereto, but they held that these v ere unimportant, and that they had pewer so to do; also that Parliament iuxd full knowledge of the changes, and must be deemed to havo accepted and ratified the action of tho Commissioners The reply went on to refer to specific cases mentioned by Mr Justice Edwards, the Commissioners explaining and defending their actions in regard thereto. The letter was signed by F. Fitchett and W. S. Re id, and pointed out that Sir Robert Stout, being absent from the Dominion, was not a party to the memorandum. LOCAL BILLS. Several local Bills were put through their final stages The Christchurch Drainage Bill was put through Committee. The House rose at 5.30 p.m.