SECRET SITTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 99, 23 October 1942, Page 4

SECRET SITTING

DECEMBER REASSEMBLY

After taking formal business yesterday afternoon the House of Representatives went into secret session to discuss the latest war

developments and also the man-

power position in the Dominion, liefore doing this, the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) secured concurrence for an adjournment until Wednesday, December 2, at 2.30* p.m., subject to the usual proviso that members will be called together earlier should circumstances

warrant such a course

"Is there any likelihood of being involved in a General Election on that date?" asked Mr. F. W. Doidge (National, Tauranga).

"I don't know," replied Mr. Fraser, "unless the honourable member would like to test the House again on the subject. I would be glad to give that oppoi'tunity." Mr. Doidge: I think it is time the House went to the country.

j The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry): Do you want to commit political suicide? The Prime Minister, replying to Mr. Holland, said he thought that the House would meet for perhaps two or three days in December. He was not sure whether there would be any further legislation. Local bodies had been considering the Bill relating to uniformity of building construction as a safeguard against earthquake. The only other Bill he knew of in the offing was one that the Minister of Housing wished to bring down in connection with the renovation of old dwellings so as to make them more habitable. That measure involved discussion with local bodies and the Health Department, and he was unable to say whether this would be completed before December. A LACK OF ROOMS. Mr. Holland at this point inquired whether the Prime Minister could give an assurance that rooms would be available for members next session. A lot of them oh this occasion had had to walk up and down the corridors. "That was very unfortunate indeed," replied Mr. Fraser. "There rare two circumstances connected with that. The formation of the War Administration put a great strain on accommodation. One of the redeeming features of the sequence of events is that there is now more accommodation available for members. It was not possible to arrange a readjustment. And, of course," concluded Mr. Fraser with a smile, "one never knows where these resignations stop."

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland): You are not expecting one from London, are you?

Mr. Fraser said he could assure Mr. Holland that steps would be taken to make members as comfortable as possible. "I think," h*e added, "they haye shown a great spirit of endurance in regard to the matter."

Replying to an interjection from Mr. Lee, the Prime Minister said that if the Pacific situation deteriorated, or if it was not as successful as they earnestly hoped it would be, the House would be called together earlier than ; December 2. MR. SCHRAMM PROTESTS. When the formal motion to clear the galleries for the secret session was put, Mr. F. W. Schramm (Government, Auckland East) vigorously recorded his protest. "No, Mr. Speaker," he said loudly.

Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Stratford) inquired if Mr. Schramm wanted to divide the House on the question. However, there was no division, Mr. Schramm remarking, "There's no one with me by the looks of it." Mr. Poison: What about the member for Grey Lynn voting? The House then went into secret session. OFFICIAL * REPORT. The secret session concluded at 12.30 a.m. today, when the following official report was issued under the direction of Mr. Speaker:—"The Prime Minister surveyed the international situation and the military operations on the several fronts. He gave particulars of his discussions and negotiations in Washington. He then introduced the question of the utilisation of manpower in the Dominion, information on the matter having been circulated to members. Fifteen other speakers took part in the discussion."

The House then formally adjourned to December. 2.