PARLIAMENTARY DAY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27639, 21 April 1955, Page 14

PARLIAMENTARY DAY

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, April 20. Except for the rebuking by a Minister of a colleague—both Christchurch district members —the proceedings in the House of Representatives today lacked wide interest. After a desultory afternoon of discussing questions, the main argument being on electric power supply, the Address-in-Reply debate was continued in the evening, when maiden speeches were made by Messrs J. H. George (Government, Central Otago), E. J. Keating (Opposition, Hastings), and N. L. Leslie (Government, Rangitikei). The best of the three speeches was by Mr Shelton, whose pleasantly-deliv-ered address had a farming bias. The House five minutes before the usual hour with the debate unfinished. The prospects of the House rising for a two to three months’ break next Thursday are* becoming dimmer. The National Roads Amendment Bill has yet to be discussed, and the Police Amendment Bill, validating the appointment of a commission, to be introduced. The latter promises to provide the liveliest debate of the session. Signs that the House was getting out of order were clear this afternoon, and Mr Speaker issued a warning that he intended to use all the power available to him to keep tempers and interjections in check. At periods the House was noisier than it has been for some years.