House of Representatives,

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12794, 12 June 1909, Page 2

House of Representatives,

WELLINGTON, June 11

The House met at 2.30.

Mr Forbes moved the Address-in-Eeply to the^x-ecli of the Throne. H© outlined the wise and statesmanlike policy in connection with defence, and said the effect of Sir Joseph Ward's presence at the Imperial Defence Conference would be very good. It would be unfair to the Premier to continue the session in his absence, in view of tho important legislation to be dealt with.

Mr Taylor (Thames) seconded. He said the time had come for a change in the British Navy. The coming conference would be the beginning of the change. Mr Massey moved to strike out tlic^line in the Address-in-Reply affirming tl:e desirability of the early prorogation of Parliament. The country was waiting for social and land legislation. He was anximus, like the member for Hurnnui, to break up the land monopoly, but the Government was the greatest land monopolist. He protested against the adjournment of the session till October. Australia and Canada were not sending their Prime Ministers to the Conference. Emphasis had been laid on the necessity of the Premier being present in Parliament to explain the policy. What was their policy ? They had none at the general election. Their policy was to retain office at any price. He criticised the recent Ministerial appointments in a humorous style. In connection with the construction of the Roxburgh-Lawrence railway line- the Government had made a serious mistake. They should have known before asking for ,£30,000 whether the line would pay. People were leaving the colony in hundreds every week. Sixteen hundrd left last month in excess of arrivals. Mr Massey, after touching on na-tive-land and other questions, referred to the Second Ballot Act, and asked what it had cost? JTb© effect of the Gaming Act had been to make New Zealand a paradise for spielers. Th© ~aming legislation was faulty, and he hoped it would be remedied He did not intend his amendment as a want of confidence motion, but simply as a protest against the postponement of the session.

Mr Hardy seconded the amendment.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie, in rewl- to Mr Massey, referred to the questions of finance, unemployment, and naval defence. Tlie last was the greatest' question before the Empire to-day. The position was exceedingly serious. Britain was never «o defenceless as now. In the event of Great Britain being involved in a struggle with Germany there was nothtffg to hinder the Eastern nations attempting to wrest New Zealand from us. There were indications of a revival of industry in the Dominion. He advocated greater attention to the primal induptries. If the workers had tT-p right to* demand work the Government should have the right to instruct young people in the industrial p.vts.

Mr Allen drew a parallel between the financial cleaning up necessary to-day with that of 1887, due to -the Government rreatinsr billets and departments which v.ere not reauirod, and then casting out into the world the men appointed to the •positions. The German naval development -vas not so much aimed at Britain as it wn<? intended to aid her influence in world nolitics. He charged the Premier with bein^ unsound on the military defence of the Dominion, and hoped lie would come back with a well-thought-out scheme of military defence.

Mr Wilford quoted British and foreign papers in support of the contention that Germany's naval scheme was solely directed against Britain. It was a diplomatic axiom that if a great national ideal could ho fostered it would have the effect of Rwammnpr small dissensions. In 1903 the Socialists in Germany swept the board at :lie elections. This and other causes led the Kaiser to spread the idea that Britain was about to attack Germany. The Kaiser next engineered the Balkan crisis. The House rose at 5.30.

The House resumed at 7.30.

Mr Wilford (continuing) recalled the lime when the Kaiser was the guest of King Edward, aud the former made the famous speech in which the statement was made 'Blood is thicker than water." At the same time the Eeichstag was voting 200 million sterling on its naval programme. If British ship-building depended oy German assurances, Britain would bo left behind. Ihe German navy and army were kept in a state of preparation lor war, while the British was maintained on a peace footing. Mr Newman opposed the adjournment oi the session on the grounds of urgent business requiring attention. Mr Poole dealt at length with the naval crisis, and, urged the need for compulsory training. Sir Joseph Ward eaid it had been a very interesting debate. He recapitulated the argument in support of his presenting the Dominion at the Conference, and the adjournment of Parliament. The Confernce 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 leavinothe Dominion. The number of people who had left during the past month was not above the average in 1909. The arrivals till May amounted to 18,liy, 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 re the financial cleaning up in 1887, the Premier said he was one of those who helped the Atkinson Government in doing so. Mr Allen had further said the Government's financial position was not sound. He denied Mr Allen's statement that he (the Premier) had scoffed at Australia's defence proposals. Sir Joseph Ward quoted Ins statement at the Imperial Conference in regard to the military defence of the Dominion, and advocated uniformity throughout the Empire in volunteer and other defence forces. Regarding Mr Allen's suggestion that New Zealand and Australia should have navies of their own, the Premier quoted an authority as statmg it would be 50 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 NSvy to a state of efficiency. He concluded vpith an appeal to parties to sink all differences on this question. Mr Fisher continued the debate at con-

siderable length, after which Mr Buick moved the adjournment.

Sir Joseph Ward gave notice to move that this House approve the action of tho Government in its offers ot assistance to the Imperial Navy in the terms conveyed lo the Home Government in the despatch of 27th March. The House rose at 11.30. WELLINGTON, June 12. The House met at 10.30. The debate on the Address-in-Beply was continued by Mr Buick, who said it was the duty of the House to confirr.i die Government's offer of a Drc-adnonrrht, tllie considered it should first" have bc«.J submitted to Pailiament. Mr Buick believed the Premier would learn a lesson or two at Home. It was a great pity business should not go on in his absence. He maintained that -oung men were leaving the country because they had no chance here. Mr Luke 6aid he would vote for the amount. He claimed to bo an independent member. The Premier was putting tlie interests of party before those of the country. He condemned the adjournmtnt of the session. The Hon. A. W. Hogg referred to remarks by the Opposition on his own and his colleagues' position. He denied that they were dumb dogs. He had. not sought his present position. He charged the Loader of the Opposition with seeking to accompany the Premier Home. He regretted the fact that men were out of work, but said no attempts ha-d been made to reduce wages. Mr Hogg, continuing, expressed himself strongly on the subject of land mono)>oly, and contended it was large estates that were largely responsible for the preBent distress. Land settlement would have to go on side by side with land taxation. He had always regarded land monopoly as a crime. He explained his remarks regarding a note irane by tlie State. His id-?a was to make capital as plentiful as possible. Mr Buchanan said he was in a position to prove that the suggestion that Mr Massey should accompany the Premier emanated from the Government side. The Premier 6aid he could prove otherwise. Mr Buchanan went on to criticise M^ Hogg's speech and 6aid he would be better employed setting Crown and opening natives' lands than lecturing the Opposition. He hoped the Premier would frankly state what he felt himself empowered to do at the Naval Conference. The House adjourned till 2.30.