DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 8

DAY IN PARLIAMENT

NO-CONFSDEWCE AND REPLY

The political leaders occupied the limelight in the House of Representatives last night. A no-confidence amendment to the motion in connection with the Address in Reply, embracing eight points in criticism of the Government's policy, was moved by the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. A. Hamilton), and this gave him the opportunity, in a speech which lasted just over an hour, of attacking numerous aspects of the Government's administration. Defence, the shortage of London funds, and, of course, the import and export regulations were among the many subjects with which Mr. Hamilton dealt. Then the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) rose to give a categorical denial to the Opposition's charges and to reaffirm the Government's intention to do what it thought best for the welfare of the people of the Dominion. He contended that there were many indications of prosperity and confidence in the Government, and declaimed against those who were crying "wolf" and attempting to undermine the country's credit, which was absolutely sound. The amendment was still before the House when, on the motion of the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (National, Hurunui), the adjournment was taken : A 9.54 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. today.

In the Legislative Council the Ad-dress-in-Rep]y debate was initiated during the afternoon by the Hon T. Doyle (Southland) and the Hon. J. E. Duncan (Auckland) The Hon. B. Martin (Auckland) was elected to succeed the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Otago) as Chairman of Committees.