IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2220, 5 August 1914, Page 6

IN PARLIAMENT.

DAILY SUMMARY. , The feeling which pervaded tie House of Representatives when members assembled for business; yesterday was not so much one of.suspense,as of' waiting expectancy. There.was a\ gen-' eral belief that news of England be- i ing involved in the war might arrive at \ any time and it was in that belief that tho; House worked through the after- - noon. ".•■'■•,.

Vhen notices of motion were given at the beginning of the sitting the war was mentioned several times. The Government was asked whether it intended to \provide additional cold (storage, and also whether steps would be taken' ' to keep food prices down to a-reason- ' able level.

In answer to a question the Hon. R £1- Rhodes said that war news would oe to the various post ofuces throughout the. country in the samo manner as was dbne'durinc the Boer war. : -

Then came the Prime Minister's statement on the subject of the war and the precautionary measures that\ are being taken in New Zealand. It was quietly received, but there was a stir of interest when Mr. Massey made it known that the Garrison Artillery Territorials had been drafted into the torts. Keen interest was. manifested also in the messages received from the' Secretary of State lor the Colonies in reply to tho Government's provisional oiter of an expeditionary force and there was a tense moment when -the lriino Minister said'.that although Brk tain ■ wasi not yet in need of the proffered aid it was quite possible that the Imperial Government might change ite decision m the very near future. "I can't go further than that at preSB1 »> was his concluding comment. . Iho absolute sinking of partv feelmg which has dominated the position ever 6ince the; present critical situation arose was again in; evidence, and the leader of the Opposition was applauded when he said that lie-and his party cordially endorsed tlio- measures .which had been taken by the Government. By 3 p.m. the House had'settled down to work on Bills, • but even a stranger coming in for. the first time might have detected the fact that the atmosphere was not normal.. There was little debate and business • was \ put through at express speed. ' : The Customs Amendment Bill, '• a small, measure making technical amendments, was introduced and read a first time. • . .•'.■•:...■

Ihe Banking Amendment Bill, which enables' the Government to guarantee bank-notes, was put through its remaining stages and passed after a brief discussion in the course of which the - Minister of Finance and the Leader of the Opposition concurred in reassuring statements as to the soundness of the i Dominion's financial position.' A'clause was added to the Bill authorising tho Minister of Finance to prohibit the export of gold. ' ■ '

Other measures . advanced' a stage were: The Civil Service Guarantee Repeal Bill; and the Immigration Restriction .Amendment' Bill, which- places restrictions upon the immigration of Hindus. . ■ ■■ . .' ■

At five o'clock the Prime Minister moved the adjournment -.until the following day, and the House rose.