SITTING OF COMMONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 936, 9 February 1917, Page 3

SITTING OF COMMONS.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. VICTORY BEFORE PEACE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, February 7. In the House of Commons, Mr Geo. N. Barnes, Minister of Pensions, asked for power to introduce a Bill dealing with war pensions, and MiArthur Henderson asked leave to introduce the National Service Bill. Mr C. A. McCurdy (L., Northampton), in moving the Address-in-Reply, said we all desired peace, but were not in a hurry. There were some things we wanted to do first. Our instincts revolted at the thought of entering into negotiations with the authors of the atrocities in Belgium and the aiders and abettors of the massacres in Armenia, until they were soundly and decisively defeated.

Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux (U., Portsmouth), in seconding the motion, said that as the Zeppelin menace was ended it was not too much to hope that the Navy would successfully counter the new submarine campaign. The Navy was completely confident. MR ASQUITH'S SPEECH. "Mr Asquith said that the nation's only duty was to be united in its determination to devote all its energies to the prosecution of the war. He paid a tribute to the King's continuous self-effacement and devotion. The King and Queen, he said, had set a;i example to their subjects. He ufs-o declared tlvat a large measure of the efficiency of the blockade of Germany was due to the self-sacrifice and gallantry of the men of the mercantile marine.

Continuing, Mr Asquith inquired what would be the scope and purpose of the Imperial Conference, and whether it would deal wholly wilh the Empire's efforts in the war, or consider the question of Imperial economic reconstruction and postwar problems. He also sought information regarding the Government's labour, food, and shipbuilding schemes. War on Neutrals. He declared that Germany's latest threat was substantially a declaration of war on the neutral world. Germany expected from neutrals acquiescence or merely verbal protest. It was gratifying to notice the

stern and resolute determination of the other great P.: :di.sh-speaking community to frustrate the great enormity proposed by the enemies of the human race. Essentials to Peace. They must secure a victory which would pave the way to an abiding peace and safeguard the humanities of the future. The two essentials were the closest co-ordination in the plans and operations of the Allies, and complete concentration on home resources, lie appealed to everyone to discharge this duty, remembering that they were the trustees ofs the greatest cause in existence.

MR BONAR LAWS REPLY. Mr Bonar Law, Leader of the House of Commons, saitl that Mr Asquith's speech was the best possible testimony to the country's unity. Answering Mr Asquith, Mr Bonar Law said that 00,000 unexempted men were engaged in agriculture. It was decided that 20,000 should enlist provided that/.substitutes could be found from the army. He urged that there should be no criticism of the National Service scheme until it was developed. The Shipping Problem.

The Government, added Mr Bonar Law, was requisitioning more and more merchantmen, and some arrangement as to the nationalisation of the shipping industry, similar to that already carried out in connection with the railways, would have to be arrived at. The details would be decided upon shortly. He announced that the Shipping Controller had already done valuable work in providing new ships, and added: ''Whatever the submarine ravages may be we are doing something to replace them by the' many ships which we are constructing with the utmost rapidity." The Imperial Conference.

Regarding the Imperial Conference, Mr Bonar Law said that this was arranged because the usual Colonial Conference had not been held. The conference would consider questions of common interest regarding the war. This covered a wide ground, but it was impossible to lay down any hard-and-fast limitations on the mailers which the visiting Prime Ministers would be permitted to discuss. Mr Bonar Law said that he had arranged that the overseas Prime Ministers should sit as members when Cabinet was discussing questions specially concerning them. The Submarine Menace. The submarines were one of the greatest dangers that we were fighting. Although he was only speculating, he could not help feeling that Germany "was already doing her maximum, and had absolutely no chance of starving Britain and defeating us that way. The Navy's best brains were concentrated on submarines, and everything possible was being done. The Military Position.

Mr Bonar Law noted the absence of disasters and the favourable trend of the war in the various theatres. Germany's aims in Rumania had been defeated, and she had been disappointed regarding anticipated supplies of corn and oil from that country. He referred with satisfaction to. the accomplishments of the British troops in Egypt, and added that the position in Mesopotamia was eminently satisfactory. Everything pointed to the Allies' ability to defend the position in which they were placed at Salonica, and we had cleared out the enemy from Sinai. Referring to East Africa, he «aid it was only a matter of a short time before the last German colony would be subdued. The position on the West front justified every confidence. Our frequent raids were invariably successful, and not a single counterattack had succeeded. This had resulted in a complete Anglo-French moral ascendency over the enemy. Our soldiers had again and again proved themselves more than a match for their enemies. Our inferiority in material had ceased, and with our superiority in fighting spirit and material, we might early expect the best results from this front.

Mr Bonar Law criticised President Wilson for his efforts to cry down the justice of our cause. "Napoleon," said Mr Bonar Law, "roused the world because of his lust for conquest. The same thing will result now." Mr G. J. Wardle (Labour, Stockport) endorsed Mr Asquith's appeal for unity, and said that he hoped Labour would be consulted on important questions. Mr G. King (L., Somerset North) urged a relaxation of the censorship, a'nd asked for a statement regarding the position in Ireland. The House adjourned.