SMART PACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 282, 27 November 1940, Page 9

SMART PACE.

SMALL FARMS BILL MOTION FOR URGENCY. FORCED TO DIVISION. (By Telegraph — Parliamentary Reporter.) VV ELLINGTON, thta day. Resuming after an adjournment of six weeks, the House of Representatives yesterday swung into its stride without delay. Tho only measure on the Order Pa|>«r was the Small Farms Amendment Bill, which has become pretty well known lately, and the House was a little surprised when the Prime Minister, Mr. Fra-cr, asked for urgency, so surprised indeed that the motion for urgency was forced to a division. The Opposition based its criticism on several major objections, one of which was the question of tenure, and developed arguments that have become familiar lately. Included in the Opposition speakers was tho new member for Waipawa, Mr. Harker, who made his maiden speech, in the course of which he attacked the tenure provision 011 tlve grounds that it violated the principle of s«curity. He spoke clearly and with care, handling interjections with facility. One cf his mos>t persistent interrupters was the Minister of Lands, Mr. Langstone, who wished to correct him, but was corrected in turn. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Housing, Mr. Armstrong, defended the measure. Outside the House the development of keenest interest was the appointment of Mr. H. Hand, member for Christcburch North, as Leader of the Opposition, in plaoe of Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Holland took his seat as Leader when the House returned in the afternoon, and in tihe evening he received the congratulations of those opposite him. At the same time Mr. Eraser took the opportunity of explaining the change as it affected the constitution of the War Calbinet. The House adjourned at 11.46 p.m. with the debate on the Small Farms Bill still in progress.