DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 64, 13 September 1939, Page 8

DAY IN PARLIAMENT

EMERGENCY POWERS TAKEN

After an adjournment of almost a week, during which time the Government addressed itself to questions of urgent national importance arising out of the war, the House of Representatives resumed yesterday afternoon and heard a brief and general outline of what the Government had in mind. The Acting Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) indicated that he intended to announce some positive course of action on Friday next, and he was taken to task by the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) for not making the House more fully acquainted with the Government's plans. Mr. Hamilton went so far as to suggest a further adjournment, but Mr. Fraser made it clear that any further adjournment would be more a hindrance than a help.

Some of the Government's emergency policy was crystallised in the Emergency Regulations Bill, which was introduced and read a first time last evening. It puts the country On a definite war-time footing and gives the Government absolute powers. Four other minor Bills were also introduced, and a number of Departmental papers were tabled, among them the Public Works Statement.

The House for the most part was occupied in a discussion of local Bills on the Order Paper. The Napier Harbour Board Loan Amendment Bill was passed, but the Wanganui Harbour District and Empowering Amendment Bill was "talked out." The House adjourned at 10.30 p.m.