THE NEWS IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 30, 4 August 1923, Page 7

THE NEWS IN PARLIAMENT

A DEEP IMPRESSION. A deep impression was created in the House of Representatives yesterday aftei'noon when the Prime Minister interrupted the debate upon the Estimates shortly after 5.30 p.m. to announce the news o£ the death of the President of the United States. It was with very great regret, he said, that he had to inform the members o£ President Harding's death, the news of which had just reached him. The position was an awkward one so far as the New Zealand Parliament was concerned, for the House was in Committee on the Estimates, but they must express their regret and sympathy with the people of the United States in what had taken place. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilted) immediately rose and stated that in the circumstances he would withdraw an amendment which he had proposed to move on an item in the Intimates, and at 4.45 o'clock progress was reported. When the House resumed the Prime Minister said he did not think it would be a proper thing for either the Committee or the House to continue sitting, in view of what had. happened, and he would move that the House adjourn. So far as the official communication between this country and the Government of the United States was concerned, it would be attended to by His Excellency ths Governor-General. Only thafc morning, said Mr. Massey, he had noticed in the paper that President Harding had taken a turn for the better, and everyone had hoped that he would soon be restored to health and strength. However, that was not to be. Mr. Massey then moved that the House adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Monday out ot respect to the memory of the late President of the United States. On Monday, he stated, he would move a formal motion of sympathy mJ h? L;£ der °r the OPP«Mon concurrotl in the action proposed by the