EVENING SITTING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 142, 14 June 1909, Page 5

EVENING SITTING.

The House met at 7.30 p.m. Mr MALCOLM continued the debate. Mr SCOTT (Tuapeka) supported the amendment, and advocated a scheme of national defence and train-ing-ships for the youth of the Dominion. Messrs Dive, Mander and Wright also spoke in support of the amendment. The last-named caused a great uproar by stating that the Member for Hawke's Bay was a land monopolist, which the latter Member (Mr Dillon) described as most unjust. He quoted an article in a Christchurch weekly paper' from the pen of Mr G. W. Russell, Member for Avon, giving good reasons why Parliament should not be prorogued. Mr GRAHAM complimented new Members on their speeches. He described the Cabinet as the most incongruous one he had seen during the last sixteen years. The Prime Minister could rely on only two of his Ministers to lead the House during his absence. On the whole it was wise of the Prime Minister to stipulate for the prorogation of Parliament during his absence at the Conference. The amendment, that the words "and that an early prorogation of Parliament take place" be deleted from the Address-in-Reply, was then put. On a division the "amendment was lost by 45 to 29. The divisionlist is as follows: — Ayes (45): Messrs Arnoldj Baume, Brown, Bnddo, Buxton, Carroll, Clark, Colvin, Craigie, Davey, Dillon, Hon. Duncan, Ell, Forbes, Hon. Fowlds, Glover, Graham, Greenslade, Hanan, Hogan, Hon. Hopcr, Jennings, Kaihau, Laurenson, Lawry, Mac Donald, Hon. 11. McKenzie, Hon. T. Mackenzie, Hon. Millar, Hon. Ngata, Parata, Poland, Poole, Reed, Remington, Ross, Russell, Seddon, Sidey, Stallworthy, E. H. Taylor, Buick, Thomson, Sir J. Ward, "Wilford.

Noes (29): Messrs Allen, Anderson, Bollard, Buchanan, Buick, Dive, J. Duncan, Fisher, Fraser, Guthrie, Hardy, Herdman, Herries, Lang, Luke, McLaren, Malcolm, Mander, Massey, Newman, Nosworthy, Okey, Pearce, Phillips, Rhodes, Scott. G. M. Thomson, Witty, Wright. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. The Prime Minister moved that Mr Wilford be, appointed Chairman of Committees. ■-'■',' Mr MASSEY opposed the motion-, and moved an amendment that the appointment of Chairman of Commit,tees be left over till next session. He cited the precedent of 1906, when the appointment of Chairman was postponed till the actual session of Parliament on the occasion of the Prime Minister's visit to the Imperial Conference. On a division being taken tho amendment was lost by* 44 to 27. The PRIME MINISTER, moved-the adjournment, and the Hpuse rose at li.iq.i>.m.~ , * : , , *