THE WEEK IN THE HOUSE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25301, 29 September 1947, Page 6

THE WEEK IN THE HOUSE

VARIED SUBJECTS FOR DEBATE FRAYED TEMPERS ON ' THE ESTIMATES (From Our Parliamentary .Reporter.) WELLINGTON, September 28. Although it had been expected that, with the Budget debate over and done with, the House of Representatives would buckle down to more serious work last week, expectations went far beyond the actual achievement of a week more notable for the number of speeches than for the value of their subject matter. In fact, many members on both sides of the House found the week’s debating dull and disappointing. The most serious attention of the week was given—and for one night only—to consideration of the new legislation putting on a more or less permanent basis the price control system. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer), who is one of the best speakers in the House, opened the debate for the Government, and he was followed by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland), who used one of his strongest and most effective speeches of the year to express the distrust and dislike which his party held for the bill. Mr Holland was followed by the Minister of Finance (Mr W. Nash), also in good form, and the evening was, in all, one of the few really good debates of a duff session. This opening of the debate on price control was the more welcome since it followed an afternoon of almost inconsequential discussion on the report of the Royal Commission on Licensing. The discussion made it obvious that, until they can guess likely public reactions, most members on both sides are unlikely and unwilling to commit themselves. Both sides are agreed, in any case, that a referendum is the best way to tackle licensing reform, and as it now appears certain that no legislar tiori, even providing for a referendum, can be expected until next session, the expounding of the private views of those members willing to put their opinions into Hansard records is of mainly academic interest.

The Estimates The Estimates, as usual, began with sharp criticism on the now time-worn subject of the size and usefulness of the Prime Minister's Department and the cost of and the work done by» the New Zealand legation in Moscow. Tempers were a little frayed during several passages between members and the Chairman of Committees (Mr Clyde Carr). For instance, during the debate on the work of the Moscow legation Mr Carr reminded Mr A. Sutherland (Opposition, Hauraki) that “the iron curtain’’ did not appear anywhere on the Estimates, and although Opposition members reminded him that “furnishings” at least were an item, Mr Carr was adamant. A few minutes later Mr Carr was very firm indeed with the youthful Mr T. P. Shand (Opposition, Marlborough), whom he accused of frequently straying from the Estimates under discussion. In' fact, since the Budget-tearing episode, Mr Shand has had an uncomfortable time in the House, because he has been singled out for special attention by the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) and Mr Nash, both experienced debaters with a flair for sarcasm. Parliamentary Courtesy In marked contrast to the occasional flashes of ill-temper, Mr Fraser was responsible for one of the more notable Parliamentary courtesies of the week. Another new member, Mr J. KMcAlpine (Opposition, Selwyn) attacked a Public Works Department film on Molesworth when the Estimates before the House had nothing to do with that department. He was plainly and clearly out of order, and Mr Fraser, who was sitting next to Mr Carr, could have had him stopped at any minute. However, he thanked Mr McAlpine for his speech, acknowledged that he had spoken on a subject on which he was an expert, and said he hoped to hear him again on the same subject. Next week the House will spend much ffme on constitutional questions, particularly on New Zealand’s ratification of the Statute of Westminster. The sands of the session are running out now, and many members expect a big volume of legislation iq the last few weeks. Most of them agree, too, that the session so far has been much duller than might have been expected. in view of the Government’s tiny majority. Ip fact, many Government members have twitted the Opposition with making much less capital of their stronger position than they could have.