SESSION ENDS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20543, 11 May 1932, Page 15

SESSION ENDS.

VALEDICTORY SPEECHES. PWME MINISTER'S HOPE. (PRESS ASSOCIATIOX TZLEGEAII.) WELLINGTON, May 10. An announcement by Mr Speaker that the Royal Assent had been given the session's legislation was made when the House of Representatives resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Prime Minister (the Rt, Hon. G, W. Forbes), in moving the adjournment of the House, made the customary valedictory references to Mr Speaker (Sir Charles Statham), the Chairman of Committees (Mr S. G. Smith), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. B. Holland), and members generally, also to the officials and staff at Parliament Buildings. He went on to say that the measures passed during the session bad been necessitated by critical times and had been brought down with a. Sincere desire to carry the country through its difficulties. While it was impossible to prophesy, it was hoped that beforq long, in common with the rest of the world, conditions in New Zealand would take a decided turn for the better. It was only by co-operation between nations that the world's difficulties eould be solved. The most hopeful thing they had in front of them was the fact that the question of financial rehabilitation throughout the Empire was to be ap* proached in a definite way &t> the Ot-1 tawft Conference, and he felt confident that when the conference was over it | would at least be possible to see a little more clearly ahead as a result of the examination of the economic structure of the whole Empire. Burdens Imposed. Referring again to the session's legist lation, Mr Forbes said: "It has been of a character that has required very careful consideration by the Government. V/j have had to undo things that were done in more prosperous times. We hope we shall again arrive at the time when we shall be able to restore what we have taken away. We are asking the people to meet inconveniences and carry a burden to assist in overcoming the difficulties, and I feel confident that the people will do their best to enable the country to pull through." Mr Forbes added that the Government did not anticipate that Parliament Would be called together again before the end of September or the beginning of October. A Pessimistic View. . The Leader of the Opposition en- | dorsed the valedictory Bentiments expressed by Mr Forbes. "We are coming to the end of one of the most strenuous sessions the Parliament of New Zealand has ever known," he continued. "I am sorry I cannot adopt the Prime Minister's optimistic outlook in regard to the outcome of the legislation passed. There has never been a session when the lines of demarcation between the two opposing sections have been more clearly drawn than during the session we are now concluding. It is true that the economic difficulties of the day are a world problem, but in every country of the world people are starving in the midst of plenty. That is tho tragedy and real problem the Parliaments of the world have to cope with. I feel very grave apprehension with regard to the coming winter. lam afraid that when seasonal occupations come to an end there will be more distress. In fact, I am very mueh afraid this is going to be the most severe winter in the annals of New Zealand." Mr Holland said ho hoped the day was not far distant when New Zealand would be able to plaeo in employment at adequate rates of remuneration every man and woman who was able to work. Government Criticised. Mr J. McCombs said the Prime Minister had employed the well-worn excuse of world conditions in referring to the Government's legislation. He considered that world • conditions could not be blamed for a great deal of New Zealand's trouble. It was the Government that was impossible. Mr P. Fraser said he trusted it would bo possible for the Government to nounce that every family in New Zealand would, in future, at least be given the opportunity to obtain the minimum of the necessities of life.

Mr McCombs and Mr Fraser endorsed the tributes paid by Mr Forbes and Mr Holland to Mr Bpoaker, the Chairman of Committees, the officials, and staff. » A Strenuous Period. Sir Charles Statham, replying, expressed thanks for the references which had been made to his services. He said the session had been the most strenuous he had gone through. He "hoped the very dark days in which the world waß living would soon pass away. Mr S, -O. Smith replied in similar terms. The customary division was taken on the motion to adjourn and the session ended at 8 p.m., with members singing the National Anthem. '»"*" . ' . '" " *■ ■ Ull'll'l'l ;