HOUSE ADJOURNS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21319, 12 November 1934, Page 12

HOUSE ADJOURNS

♦ Recess of Three Months REASSEMBLY IN FEBRUARY [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, November 10. Parliament adjourned this morning to reassemble again on Wednesday, February 13. The adjournment was delayed for nearly two hours by a disagreement between the two Houses on a minor amendment to the Local Legislation Bill, but a compromise was reached at a conference between managers of both chambers. The House rose at 12.15 p.m., after the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) and the leader of the Opposition (Mr M. J. Savage) had exchanged Christmas and New Year greetings. Mr Savage added a rider. "I hope," he said, "our friends on the other side of the House will have the best during the coming season. Wc will attend to them after that." When the House assembled this morning, incidentally for the first and last Saturday sitting of the session, Mr Forbes moved that the adjournment should be taken until February 13, or earlier if it should be deerned advisable by the Government.

Objections to Autumn Sessions Mr H. G. R. Mason (Lab., Auckland Suburbs) told the Prime Minister there was nothing more objectionable to members than an autumn session. He asked for an assurance that the Government would have its business ready and that the Housa would not be kept sitting unnecessarily at that time of the year while a programme was being prepared. Mr Forbes said he recognised the wishes of members in this respect, and he could assure the House that the business would be ready for immediate consideration. A session early in the year was admittedly very inconvenient, but there would be no waste of time in February next.

Mr Forbes explained that the Government had done its best to complete all necessary business this session but that it had been delayed by the lateness of the various commissions' reports. The Dairy Industry Commission had had its time extended continuously and its recommendations had not been in the hands of the Government until very late in the session. However, the Government could claim that although the session had started slowly, it had made good progress during the last two months. Mr Forbes referred to the large part taken by Ihe Minister for Finance (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) in the sessional work, and said that his handling of various financial matters had done him credit.

Next Session's Work When the House reassembled it would be faced with the important subject of the proposed loan corporation. It would be undesirable, said Mr Forbes, to deal hurriedly with such far-reaching proposals, and the recess would be useful for complete investigation of the problem. There would also be legislation arising out of the Company Promotion Commission's report and the Native Affairs Commission's report, and the Minister for Public Works had an amendment bill to bring down. Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central): As long as the business is ready it will be all right. Mr A. Harris (C, Waitemata): How long will the session last? Mr Forbes: I don't think it will be long. We are not anxious to have a long session. It may last a few weeks, but there will be no preliminaries. Mr A S. Richards (Lab., Roskill): What about the election? Mr Forbes: I am not in a position yet to be able to tell you. Mr H. T Armstrong (Lab., Christchurch East): It won't be long before we meet again? Mr Forbes (with a smile): I don't anticipate it. but members will be given plenty of notice. Mr M. J. Savage, reciprocating the Prime Minister's seasonal greetings, said he hoped Government members would have the best during the Christmas season. "We will attend to them after that," he added. Mr A. E. Jull (C, Waipawa): Are you going to sharpen your knives?