UNION PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 541, 23 June 1909, Page 10

UNION PARLIAMENT.

V ;;V; A -DEBATE-ON. DEFENCE. ' : y. .'■The pubiio'gallery waS;filled':last.evenmK-at :the". session' of;!the Union , Parliament, held;in ; thev'YM.C.'J*.:"Assembly Hall..- -'A debate'"on: t.he.: ! defcnce;questipn.occupied , th'e'.whold even--1 The "Jfiriis'ter'for Defence". (Mr. ; 'A:' , E.:Badd) ihtrodiiced--ai-B'ill to provide for;'(1) a,thorough nnd elTectiye'systcm of .harbour,' and defences; (2)'rrVc.ompn!sory military or ■..naval, training for-thoimanhood of the Dominion; to' be effective ;up to -tW-aee of 45r-tlie system to work in conjunction with the present school cadet system,, and affect, in. any case, youths of-18 ; yenrt and-over; (.1) the establishment or a State nmmnnition and small-arms Jnctoryi US the institution of negotiations with the Im-peTinl-authorities with a view to setting lip in the Dominion, brnnolies of. .the .Imperial naval and military • jpl.leges, . w interchange of officers to ue effected■•pcriodicaUy. ,-.::■ A very keen debate ensued.: .Tho."Prirao Minister , *' (Mr. E. Glanyille Hicks), in a vigorous speech,'defended the mensnre, and dealt with tho financial aspect-ot i the scheme. Ho sat down;at tho expiration of :nis timo, amnl applause, but --the ■'•House,'.' on^. of. the' "Leader of ithe-.-'Opppsition ) ;(Mr. A.-.C.: Bre'tnertbn);-- immediately,.:, Primo Minister additional five, minutes. Other , Epealcers Vbre: Cm; .-Compton,; and ll'Kenzic (members of-tho "Ministry ), and Messrs. --'BretKerton,', Hall, '. Leeming, ; Ilott, Castle, and: Armstrong. The resumption of ,the debate-has; been made the first ••.'order _of.the ■My , '-- at tho, next meeting,;pf. t the.- "House," which "\is.- private mombers -night. :'.;•- ; ;.