THE DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 45, 21 August 1924, Page 5

THE DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Yesterday was a very dull day in the. House of Representatives.-■-A good portion of the afternoon was 'to be devoted' to discussing Ministerial answers.! to questions, but the replies were- apparently fairly satisfactory, for the House gradually thinned- out, and; sod:d the talk on the questions. This gave' the Government a chance, for which it has been looking for some days, to present a heap of Departmental reports, and returns, nineteen of which'were tabled. Only one member showed any inclinlation :to put on record any opinions, about reports,"and that"was"Mr.-J:"A. Lee, the Labour member for. Auckland feast-, who spoke against naval defence, rejoiced in the abandonment of: the Singapore scheme, said lie did not know whom we should arm against, declared lio did not agree with the appointments ot admirals or soldiers as Governortrenerals of New Zealand, but did not say who he would prefer in their stead criticised Admiral Field, of the Special bervice Squadron, for . making ""propaganda speeches, expressed the view that New Zealand could best be deiended by increasing the population and encasing that population in good houses and, when the bell rang on him, said no would have a "few more 11 words to say on land defence when the defence department s report is presented. An ox-soldier, Mr. Lee should make a good War Minister in a Labour Cabinet—he loves attacking • and cutting down .In the evening, the1 House spent a couple of hours on a private member's Bill relating to the Lyttelton Harbour' Board and rose at 9.35 p.m until 2.30 p.m. to-day, • r .