PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9332, 5 October 1910, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Per Press Association.) , ' WELLINGTON, Oct. 4. The House met at 2.30. p.m. Replying to Mr Buxton, the Minister of Lands said tho Government could not allow runs in the MacKenzie country to remain in their present position, and as jroon as the Committee furnished its report to the House the decision of the Government would be announced. " Hon. Mr Buddo, Minister of Internal Affairs, gave notice that on tho next sitting day he would ask leave to introduce tho Municipal Corporations Amend ment Bill. DEFENCE BILL READ A THIRD TIME. On a motion that the amendment in the Defence Bjll made ill Committec.be agreed tQ- Si? Joseph' Ward explained the alterations made in Committee, gnd expressed approval of thenj, fiefdfe iU® new law had been in operation many years he expected to find men in . the defence force taking great interest in the work, and it would be regarded as an honour to belong to the forces. He looked forward with hope to the satisfactory j working of the Act, but anticipated it might be necessary to make alterations at a future time, owing to tho development of the country. Mr Allen considered too much had been loft to the regulations. He had, however, been a&xious to see the main provision carried. He was far from thinking. the Bill perfect, and agreed with the Minister for Defence that in all probability it would have to be amended in a year or two. He was afraid that if attempts were made to force compul- | sory drill in the camp on territorials it would result in the men leaving. He again desired to express disapproval of having tho territorial and general training sj stems side by side. He, however, would accept, the present proposals. They would certainly result in a more efficient defence systam, and one which would give value for the money spent on it. Sir Jo.icph Ward, in replying, said in regard to the training of territorials and the amount of drill they were to receive in the camp this would bo dealt with in

tho regulations. When in camp men would receive pay and rations, and it 1 was not unreasonable that they should be called upon to serve six days a year in camp. Strictly speaking there were not two systems, as if a sufficient number of men voluntarily joined -the territorials there would be no necessity to enforce the compulsory system. In regard to noncommissioned officers, who would be prevented by the new regulations from serving their full term to earn war medals, he considered they should receive favourable consideration. He would undertake to 6ee thit this was done. The report was agreed to. 'On the motion that tho Bill be read a third time Mr Masscy congratulated Parliament .on .finding a solution to the number' of difficulties presented - by the Bill. It was a" great pity that so much of the defence svste.n was left to tho regulations. He urged the keeping out of political influence in the selection .of officers. The debate was continued by Messrs Newman, Forbes. Buchanan and Jennings, and tlie House rose at <\3O p.m. The House met in the evening. Mr I-lerries, resuming the debate on the third reading of the Defence Bill, subjected the Bill to criticism, based on its omissions. A large number of details which ought to have been provided for in the Bill were left to the regulations. He objected to this entirely. The Minister ought to submit a scheme giving a general scheme of drills, camps, and the date when these come into force. He considered that from a military point of view the scheme was depending too much on tho young man. The age limit of 25 was too low. The debate was continued by Messrs Thomson (Wallace), Fisher, Clark, Russell, Fraser, Taylor (Christchurch), Rhodes, Buiek, Hogg, and Hardy. Mr Allen said ho hoped to sec the time come when Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and even India might combine with the Mother Country in providing a navy for the" Pacific, that would be in a position to prevent Japan, in combination with Germany, from dominating trade routes. Mr Witty said tho effect of the Bill was to compel pofcr men to defend the estates of the wealthy. Ho believed tho passing of the Bill would be regrc'tted in a few years. In reply, Sir Joseph Ward dealt with the increased taxation imposed to meet the expenditure in defence, and asserted that no more than £50,000 a year came from the working classes. The greater proportion of cost came from the class, . and rightly- so, which had something to lose. He believed it was an outrageous , insult to the workers of the Dominion to say they would refuse to take their post in the defence of the country. The Bill was read a third time and passed.