PARLIAMENTARY DAY

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26856, 8 October 1952, Page 10

PARLIAMENTARY DAY

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter-) WELLINGTON, October 7. Urgency was taken by the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) in the House of Representatives today for the passing of seven further classes of departmental Estimates, totalling £15,835,370. The votes passed were:—Department of Maori Affairs. £827,500; Maori Trustees’ Account. £13,5T0; Land Settlement Account, Maori land settlement, £3,688,000; Public Works Account. forest development, £2,026,140; Mines Department, £153,000: and State Coalmines Account, £7.324,140. Progress was reported on the vote of the Department of Labour and Employment (£ 3,200.000). Apart from these, the only classes of Estimates remaining for approval are those under the control of the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman) and the Minister in charge of Police (Mr W. H. Fortune). The House will consider the remaining Estimates next Friday. Apart from the discussion of the Estimates, the onlv business the House transacted today was the adoption of an amendment to the motion of Mr H. G. R. Mason (Opposition, Waitakere), alleging a breach of privilege in an article published in the “Dominion,” Wellington. The amendment was that the whole article should be referred to the Committee on Privileges for an investigation and report. The House adjourned at 11.10 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. tomorrow, when Ministerial replies to members’ questions will be debated. The second reading debate on the Companies Bill will take place tomorrow evening, but it is unlikely that the bill will proceed beyond that stage this session. On Thursday it is probable that Mr Holland will give the House an opportunity—probably the last this year—of discussing papers for consideration.