PARLIAMENT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 July 1915, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. V ytiSTEEDAY'S BUSINESS. BY TSLEGKAPH—PEE I'BESS ASSOCIATIOU. .;! WELLINGTON, June 30. When the House met at 2.30 p.m. the Premier gave notice that the next sitting day lie would move that Mr. A. Malcolm be Chairman of Committees. COOK ISLANDS BILL. The Cook Islands Bill was read a second time pro forma. PUBLIC REVENUES AMENDMENT BILL. The Minister of Finance moved the second reading of the Public Revenues Amendment Bill. He explained that it was a loan Bill, and also contained certain amendments to the law rendered, necessary by special circumstances arising out of the war. Explaining details of the war expenditure the Minister said that the authority last year amounted to £2,000,000,000, and up to March 31st last the expenditure had been at the rate of £350,000 per month, and the total spent had been £2,300,000. Since then the expenditure had been at the rate of about £320,000. This was found to be insufficient, and an increase of some £15,000 per month would have to bo faced. The total required up to the end of June .next would be £7,050,000. To this had to be added the sum of £300,000 to redeem reserve fund securities, so that the total amount asked for to June next would be £7,550,000. Perhaps less than £.10,000,000 would have sufficed, but he deemed it better to have something in hand, and he thought it wise to ask the House to vote a larger amount. If it was not required it would not be used. The loan had no reference to the Public Works Fund, but, if necessaiy, sums could be transferred from time to time. Another ' loan would be raised for Public Works purposes. On the question of the cost of a loan the. Minister explained that it would be part of a great Imperial loan, and would be raised at the same rate. The amount was large, but he did not think that it was larger than the country could raise at this time. He felt convinced that the House would be prepared to vote the last penny in the country for the purpose of helping to terminate the war.

Then the only thing the Government, had to" justify was expenditure after the money had been raised.

Sir "Joseph. Ward said that he .was riot going to oppose the Bill, but he felt compelled to say that £10,000,000 was too much to ask for at the present time. It was at least £1,000,000 more than was required. It would be better to call Parliament together again to provide for requimcnts as they arise. The Minister, in reply, defended the introduction of the loan in the Public Revenues Bill. That course had been followed last year. ' There was then no criticism of the method employed. He had no .intention of using any part of the loan for public works. It was for Avar purposes, and would be used for that alone. The Bill was then read a second time and passed. PUBLIC!, EXPENDITURE VALIDADATION BILL. The Minister for .Finance moved the second reading of the Public Expenditure Validation. Bill, explaining that it validated payments for wheat and meat out of unauthorised fund; The Bill was read a second time. WAR REGULATIONS AMENDMENT BILL. On the motion of Hon. A. L. Herdman the War Regulations Amendment Bill was read a second time. The House went into. Commit tee on the Public Revenues Bill, which passed without amendment. On the third reading the Minister, In reply to Sir Joseph Ward said that lie had deliberatly advised the peopfo of this country not to remit their money to London, to participate in the British loan. He thought it wise to keep our money in the country. The Bill was then read a third time, and passed. •■•..■ BILLS READ A THIRD TIME. The Public Expenditure Validation Bill and War Reguations Amendment Bill wore put through their final stages, and passed. The House then rose at 5.20 until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.