HOUSE IN SECRET SESSION

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23625, 30 April 1942, Page 4

HOUSE IN SECRET SESSION

MR SCHRAMM OPPOSES MOTION

(P.R.) WELLINGTON, April 29. Dissent from a motion that the House of Representatives should go into secret session to-night, was expressed by Mr F. W. Schramm (Government, Auckland East). No division was called for by Mr Schramm, whose objection was not supported. The rules provide that no debate shall be allowed on a motion to exclude strangers from the House on the Prime Minister calling thp attention of Mr Speaker to the presence o i strangers. The Speaker put the formal motion excluding strangers. “No, Mr Speaker, No!” declared Mr Schramm. The Speaker declared the motion carried and Mr Schramm again said: “No, Mr Speaker.” There was no answer when the Speaker asked if a division was called for, and the House went into secret session. Explaining his objection in an interview later, Mr Schramm said that he had opposed the motion, not because he believed that something should not be told in secret session, but because he thought too much time was devoted to secret sessions and that most of the information given there, at least 90 per cent, of it, could be given to the public. “I also think that before a secret session is held a statement should be made to the public of New Zealand on the war position to-day, especially on the situation in the Pacific,” concluded Mr Schramm. ■