THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20524, 18 April 1932, Page 8

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

[Fbom Otjb Paeliamentaet Repoetbb ]

WELLINGTON, April 16. The political events of the week have been completely overshadowed by th rioting in Auckland during the past two nights. Attention ha» been diverted iLst completely from the economy proposals, and the Government concentrating its efforts upon emergeney measures to ensure |hat law and order shall be maintained throughout the C °When the first ' news of the riots reached Wellington on Thursday evening all interest in tho second reading debate of tho National Expenditure Adiustment Bill waned. Immediate steps 3 WO ro taken to co-ordinate, the resources of man-power and material that weio offered from all parts of New n and tho Minister in Charge of Unemployment, tho lit. Hon. J. G. Coates, undertook the responsibility of heading this organisation. Cabinet sat until midnight last evening discussing tho situation, and also transacting a small amount of minor business, and it is learned the general lines of procedure were adopted. Precautionary Measures. The possibility of trouble in Wellington has not been overlooked by the Ministry, and steps were taken to-day to all the outer doors on Parliament Buildings strengthened.. All motor traffic through tho grounds of Parliament House was challenged to-day, ticularly cars passing through the right-of-way near tho Prime Minister's suite of rooms, which, although not a public thoroughfare, is frequently used by those familiar with the environs of Parliament Buildings. The galleries at the House of Representatives will be closely watched also, particularly the public strangers' gallery, for which no tickets of admission are required. This gallery directly overlooks the Government benches, and the policemen and orderlies have full authority to deal with troublesome strangers. A week or two ago a man was ejected for calling out and demonstrating while the Prime Minister was speaking, but usually the strictest decorum is preserved there. It is an open secret that when Mr Forbes leaves the House lato at night to walk the few hundred yards to lii 3 Ministerial residence a bodyguard of police is not far away. This step was considered necessary, it is understood, after the discovery of loitorers at different times around the Prime Minister's rooms, which arc on tho ground floor of the Buildings. Cabinet sat again to-day to discuss the general situation and to perfect a system which it is hoped may be called into operation at a moment's notice should the occasion arise.