KEEN PACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 12

KEEN PACE.

ESTIMATES PASS.

PARLIAMENT'S WORK.

MR. SAVAGE MOVES CLOSURE. PROTEST BY OPPOSITION. (Bj- Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The House of Representatives worked at accelerated pace yesterday, and indications were clear that the Government desires to close the session at as early a- date as possible. Eight most important and contentious classes of estimates werfe disposed of involving nearly £12,000,000, including £9,000,000 for working railways. So far 44 classes of estimates have gone through, representing £34,620,407. As a protest against two votes, namely railways and broadcasting, the Opposition moved that they should be reduced. Both amendments were rejected by large majorities. During discussion on the industries and commerce vote, the Prime Minister decided to hurry things along. The House had already discussed agriculture at considerable length, bo Mr. Savage applied the closure. The last vote, broadcasting, was reached ] at 6.20 p.m., nearly one hour after the usual time for rising on Fridays. Opposition members made a strong protest at discussion being taken at so late an hour but the Government was adamant and the vote went through ! after members had aired their views on ktlie topic for 20 minutes. j Before the House adjourned the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, said that as it would be convenient for members to have amendments to the Social Security Bill written into the bill he had arranged for that to be done. The amended bill would therefore be available to members as soon as it was printed and copies would be available to the public on Tuesday. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hamilton: You are not taking the bill on Tuesday? Mr. Nash: No, on Wednesday. The Minister of Education. Mr. Fraser, moved the adjournment of the House and in doing so said there were only seven or eight items of the estimates left, and as most of these were small other business could also be taken' on Tuesday. The supplementary estimates would not be ready but it might be possible to take the Public Works estimates. The House adjourned at fi.45 pjn. for the usual week-end break.