IMPREST SUPPLY BILL TODAY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 232, 29 June 1939, Page 10

IMPREST SUPPLY BILL TODAY

Opportunity For Criticism

Of Government

FORMAL PROCEEDINGS YESTERDAY

After the formalities of the ollicial opening of Parliament by the Gover-nor-General, yesterday, the House of Representatives sat for only 20 minutes,- but in that time there was the first breath of the legislative function of the House when the first reading of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill was moved by the acting-Leader of the House, Mr. Fraser. The work of the House will begin in earnest today, when an Imprest Supply Bill will be introduced and will provide Opposition speakers with an opportunity for criticism of the Government. Mr. Macfarlane (Government, Christchurch South) who was elected to replace Mr. E. J. Howard this month, caught the Speaker’s eye for the first time when he gave notice of his intention to move that a respectful address be tendered to the Governor-Gen-eral in reply to the Speech from the Throne. The debate on this motion will begin on Tuesday, and if it follows traditional lines, will last several weeks, and will be spoken to by almost every member. Immediately on the return of the members of the House of Representatives to their chamber yesterday,. Mr. Speaker reported that he had waited on the Governor-General to report that he had been chosen as Speaker, and that the Governor-General had duly approved of the appointment. So that it could be incorporated in the journals of Hie House, the Speaker reported that a petition against the election of Mr. Boswell (Government, Bay of Islands), had been withdrawn. The House rose at 3.20 till 2.30 today.