DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 129, 27 November 1940, Page 6

DAY IN PARLIAMENT

THE SMALL FARMS BILL

Resuming after an adjournment of six weeks, the House of Representatives yesterday swung into its stride without delay. The only measure on the Order Paper was the Small Farms Amendment Bill, which has become pretty well known lately, and the House was a little surprised when the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) asked for urgency—so surprised, indeed, that the motion for urgency was forced to a division. The Opposition based its criticism on several major objections, one of which was the question of tenure, and developed arguments that have become familiar recently. Included among the Opposition speakers was the new member for Waipawa (Mr. C. G. E. Harker) who made his maiden speech, in the course of which he attacked the tenure provision on the ground that it violated the principle of security. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Housing (Mr. Armstrong) defended the measure. Outside the House the development of keenest interest was the appointment of Mr. S. G. Holland, member for Christchurch North, as Leader of the Opposition in place of the Hon. Adam Hamilton. Mr. Holland took his seat as Leader when the House resumed in the afternoon, and in the evening he received the congratulations of those opposite him. At the same time, Mr. Fraser took the opportunity of explaining the effect of the change on the constitution of the War Cabinet.

The House adjourned at 11.46 p.m., with the debate on the Small Fa&ms Bill still in progress.