URGENCY FOR 24 BILLS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28700, 25 September 1958, Page 14

URGENCY FOR 24 BILLS

All-Night Sitting Expected (New Zeaiana' Press Association/ WELLINGTON, Sept. 24. After a division and a vote of 37 to 36 the House of Representatives this afternoon agreed to urgency being applied to 24 bills on the Order Paper and members then prepared for another extended sitting. The Prime Minister (Mr Nash) said provision would be made tomorrow afternoon for special discussions on electric power and on the recently negotiated trade agreement between New Zealand and Japan, and the remaining controversial bills would be taken tomorrow evening.

Mr Nash said he expected the session to end on Friday morning. If it did he would leave for the United Nations on Friday afternoon. Mr Holyoake asked if it was Mr Nash s intention to pass all the 24 bills before the House finished sitting tonight. Mr Nash: That’s what the motion says. I do not want a repetition of last night. They are reasonably non-controversial bills. while the House was being broadcast, the Government took full time and put up speaker for speaker with the Opposition, said Mr Holyoake. “I don’t want to see a repetition of yesterday either,’’ he added. Prophecy “Impossible”

Mr Holyoake said he thought Mr Nash was under-estimating the bills he considered noncontroversial. What fate did he prophesy for the Trade Practices Bill?

Mr Nash: I can’t prophesy anything in the House. The Minister of Labour (Mr Hackett): Neither can the Leader of the Opposition. He has no control over his party. Mr Holyoake: Does the Prime Minister intend to put the Trade Practices Bill through all stages this week? It might be wiser to postpone it. It will certainly be well into next week before the House can possibly pass it. Mr Nash: All the bills on the Order Paper will be submitted to the House except the two I have said will not be proceeded with.

Opposition voice: We’re here all night - Mr S. W. Smith (Opposition, Hobson): You’ve; got no consideration for anyone at all. When the House divided on the urgency notion, Mr Holyoake commented: This is too much and I* am afraid the Opposition will have to express its objection.