ADJOURNMENT EARLY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28697, 22 September 1958, Page 12

ADJOURNMENT EARLY

Protests By Opposition

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 21.

After protests had been made by Opposition members that the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) had not made himself clear about sitting on Saturday, the adjournment of the House of Representatives was taken on the voices, and the House rose at 3.5 p.m. on Saturday until 2.30 p.m. on Monday. Immediately after the National Service Registration Bill had been passed, the Prime Minister at 2.52 p.m. said he would like to move the adjournment.

Mr W. S. Goosman (Opposition, Piako): No, no. We’ve been misled.

Mr Nash: I’m not going to make a speech about it. Mr Goosman: This is most unfair. The Prime Minister said we would sit from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., and we’ve had no information that the sitting might end earlier.

Mr Goosman said it was too late for members to make any arrangements to travel to their homes.

"Now there is time to get some more business through, but to suit the convenience of some members, the House is going to adjourn,” said Mr Goosman, adding that he understood that quite a number of Government members had booked seats to enable them to get home that afternoon.

Government voices: That’s not correct.

Mr Goosman: Well if it isn’t I will withdraw.

Mr S. W. Smith (Opposition, Hobson) added his protest, and Mr J. K. McAlpine (Opposition, Selwyn) asked: “Are any Government members going home?”

“No.” shouted a chorus from the Government benches.. Mr Smith said that the Prime Minister had claimed urgency, but for some reason known only to himself he wanted to adjourn early. No Bookings The Senior Government Whip (Mr H. L. J. May) said that no members of the Government had booked in anticipation of the House adjourning earlier than 4.30 p.m. Five pairs had been granted under an arrangement by the Whips of both parties. Mr J. M. Deas (Government, Otahuhu) said he was t concerned about the welfare of members, particularly the member for New Plymouth, who, if he had to sit in the House while a Ranfurly Shield match was in progress, might have a nervous breakdown. After Mr Nash had repeated what he had said when moving the motion to extend sitting hours, he moved the adjournment, which was agreed to on the voices.