TROUBLE EXPECTED IN HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 7, 3 October 1927, Page 8

TROUBLE EXPECTED IN HOUSE

DISAGREEMENT OVER MONDAY SITTING

GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF BREACH OF FAITH

Friday seems to have been a day of misunderstanding in the House of Representatives. One result is that the House will sit to-night to put through Gov= ernment business, and thus will be inaugurated the Monday night sittings of the session.

Members left for their homes early on Saturday morning in a spirit of bitterness, and unless wiser counsels prevail in the meantime they will be in the same frame, of mind to-night.

According to the Government viewpoint, it had been arranged that on Friday the Railways Statement would be debated and that the estimates for that department and for others would be put through; and it is contended on their behalf that this agreement was broken. On the other hand, the Opposition say that no such agreement was made, and they charge the Government with a breach of faifli. The business to be taken op Friday, however, was the subject of continual negotiation, and the cause of the disagreement can possibly be traced to confusion or some misunderstanding as to what really was arranged. Since he found that the programme he had arranged could not be adhered to, the Prime Minister decided to call the House together to-night, and it was when be moved a motion to that effect that the exchange of amenities was indulged in. Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland Fast) told the Prime Minister he would not get very far on those tactics, and Mr. F N. Bartrum (Grey Lynn) said it was not playing cricket. Mr. Coates said that those members who had left .already had fully expected that certain" classes of the "Estimates would be put through that evening He added that he proposed to put through on Monday those classes which it had been intended •to put through that night. “There is no doubt,” he added, "that certain members have held things up to-night.” Mr. Holland said it was none of his party’s doing that such a discussion had taken place, and if the Prime Minister took up that attitude he would not get far on Monday night. The issue was forced to a division, and the adjournment until Monday evening was agreed to by 34 votes to 11. After Mr Speaker had left the Chair and the House had risen there was a private discussion of the situation among members of "the various parties, but from what could be learned over the week-end it would appear that trouble will develop when the Government brings forward its business tonight. As" it is within the power of the Opposition to keep the House from going into Committee on the Estimates bv debating until half-past 12 tlie .motion that Mr. Speaker leave the Chair, it is possible that the Government may make a counter move, by bringing forward other business."

The details concerning the m#rasures to be brought forward during the coming week have not vet been finalised, but it is expected that the Customs Bill will make its appearance. How long it will take to put the Bill through the House is a matter of speculation. The arbitration amendment is still in the offing, but it may be expected to shw up shortly - . ' A contentious measure that will probably be in the forefront during the week is the Shops and Offices Bill, due for further consideration in Committee.