DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 152, 30 June 1938, Page 8

DAY IN PARLIAMENT

IMPREST SUPPLY DEBATE

An early opportunity for Opposition members to review various aspects of Government -policy was provided in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Imprest Supply Bill, which gives liberal opportunities for discussion. The debate, which lasted from shortly after 2.30 pjn. until 12.35 a;m, today, was inaugurated by the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton), who had a good deal to say about the Government's financial transactions. There was a very strong flavour of party politics about the discussion,, and seemed to seize upon the opportunity for a little free-for-all electioneering. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) and the member for Pahiatua (the Hon. Sir Alfred Ransom) had, a little argument about what the Primf Minister did or did not say during his recent visit to that electorate, but the feature of the debate was a discussion on interest rates, a point on which the member for Kaipara (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) spoke with some feeling. He charged the Prime Minister with misrepresentation on this issue, his contention being that the previous Government, in which he was Minister of Finance, made the initial move when it came to a reduction.

In the Legislative Council the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate was opened by the Hon. F. E. Lark (Auckland), who stressed the importance of adequate measures for defence in the present troubled state of international affairs. The seconder was the Hon. Rangi Mawhete (Palmerston * North), who claimed that the Maoris, owing to their communal ideas, were born Socialists.

Both* Houses adjourned, until 2.30 p.m. today. ' ■ ;i