EVENING SITTING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 141, 12 June 1909, Page 8

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7*.30 p.m. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Mr WILFORD, continuing, recalled ■the time, when the Kaiser was the guest of King Edward. The former made a famous speech in which the statement was made that "blood is thicker than water." At the same time the Reichstag was voting £200,----©OO,OOO oil the naval programme If British shipbuilding depended on German assurances the British would be left behind the German Navy and the Army-kept in a state of preparation for war, while the British was maintained on a peace footing. Mr NEWMAN (Manawatu) opposed the adjournment of the session, on the grounds that there was urgent business requiring attention. Mr POOLE dealt at length with the naval crisis, and urged the need for compulsory training.

Sir Joseph WARD said that it had been a very interesting debate. He recapitulated the arguments in support of his representing the Dominion at the Conference and the adjournment of Parliament. The Conference had been called by the Imperial Government after the Dominion had made the offer of a "Dreadnought." The statement had been made that people were leaving the Dominion. The number of people, who left in the past month was not above the average. In 1909 the arrivals till May numbered 18,119, and the departures 17,441; in 1908 the total arrivals were 18,500 and the departures 15,700. During the last ,ten years our gain in population •from outside was about 120,000. Regarding Mr Allen's statement regarding the financial cleaning-up in 1887, the Prime Minister said that ho was one of those who Tielped the Atkinson Government in doing so. Mr Allen had further said that ihe Government financial position was not sound. He denied that ■entirely. He also denied Mr Allen's statement that he (the Prime' Minister) had scoffed at Australia's defence proposals. Sir Joseph

, Ward quoted his statements at the i Imperial Conference in regard ix> the , ' military .jdefence*and the Dominion. rHcriidvdcated uniformity throughout ! the. Empire in the Volunteer - and : other defence forces. Regarding Miy Allen's suggestion that New Zealand and Australia should have navies of their own, the Prime Minister quoted opinions stating that it would be fifty years before the Australian Navy would, be of any use. Sir John Colomb had called it a "squirt." It was our bounden duty to help the British Government to bring the Navy to a state of efficiency. He concluded with an appeal to parties to sink all differences on this question. Mr FISHER continued the debate at considerable length, after whichMr Buick (Palmerston) moved the adjournment. . • Sir Joseph WARD gave notice to move "that this House approve the action of the Government in its offers of assistance to the Imperial Navy in terms conveyed to the Home Government in the despatch of the 27th March." The House rose at 11.30 p.m.