PARLIAMENT RISES

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1933, Page 7

PARLIAMENT RISES

BOUQUETS ALL ROUND

LEADERS’ VALEDICTORIES

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, March 10.

The House of Representatives resumed at 4.30 p.m., and agreed to the amendment made by the Council in the Christchurch District Tramway Amendment Bill. The House adjourned at 4.35 until the ringing of the bells. The House resumed at 6.15, to receive the Royal assent to the legislation passed during the session. Moving the adjournment of the House, Mr. Forbes said the curtain was being rung down on one of the most important sessions in their history. Far-reaching legislation, rendered absolutely necessary by the economic position of the Dominion, had been passed, and he trusted it would, to some degree, assist the citizens to face the in front of them. Members had experienced an arduous session, but had come through it in accordance with the country’s traditions. Mr. Forbes then paid tributes to the Speaker, the Chairman of Committees, and the officers associated with the public buildings. He said he understood that Mr. W. Dasent, clerk-assist-ant in the House of Representatives, was about to sever his connection with Parliament, extending over 50 years, ( and he expressed appreciation of the ( valuable services that officer had ren- i dered. <

Mr. Forbes said he considered that the New Zealand Debt Conversion Act must, without doubt, be placed at the head of the list of measures passed during the session, and he paid tribute to the manner in which Mr. Coates, at short notice, had thoroughly grasped all the intricate details associated with the bills he had had to sponsor. Concluding, Mr. Forbes thanked the Leader of the Opposition, and members generally, for the manner .in which they had assisted the transaction of business of the session. The Leader of the Opposition thanked Mr. Forbes for the references to himself and colleagues, and said he could heartily reciprocate. He also desired to associate himself with everything that had been said concerning the Speaker, Chairman of Committees, and officers of the House. Continuing, Mr. Holland said the session was ending under circumstances unique in the history of the country. Ha.jthouglit it regrettable that tens of tltowpands of citizens would heave A SIGH OF RELIEF when Parliament adjourned. Many people had remarked to him that they would be glad when the session was over, because they never knew what mischief Parliament would be doing next. He hoped that by the time the House met again, there would be a vast change for the better in the economic conditions of the world, and that this change would reflect itself in New Zealand’s own conditions. Mr. Coates associated himself with the tribute paid by Messrs Forbes and Holland. Referring to the conver-

sion, he said that Britain’s conversion of 2,000 millions had struck the imagination and won applause from the whole world. New Zealand’s attempt at the converesion of 115 millions might look small in comparison, but in proportion to population it represented even a bigger task. Britain and Australia had carried out conversion schemes, and although conditions in those countries were not nearly so satisfactory as we would wish, they were certainly better to the extent that lower interest rates had been secured. It was now New Zealand’s turn to take this decisive step towards putting

their House in order, and she could not, and would not, fail, in contrast witli Britain and Australia. Sir C. Statham and Mr. Smith expressed thanks for the tributes that had been uaid them, and their appreciation of the assistance members had given them in carrying out their duties.

The session ended with th rising of the House at 7.15.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

WELLINGTON. March 10. The Legislative Council resumed at 2.30 p.m. The Christchurch City Reserves Amendment Bill was passed without amendment. In the Christchurch District Tramway Bill, a. clause seeking to have trackless trolley buses classified as trams was defeated by eight votes to three, on the motion of Mr. Masters, who stated the clause was contrary to the policy of the Transport Department, and contravened the legislation which was being prepared for next session.

The Bill was then passed. The Council adjourned at 4.25 until the ringing of the bells. The Council resumed at 6.15. The usual valedictory references were made, the speakers being Mr. Masters, Mr. Collins and the Speaker. The Council adjourned at 6.30 p.m. FRUITS OF THE SESSION WELLINGTON, March 10. During the 1932-33 session, the House of Representatives met on seventy-one days. The House sat for 368 hours 26 minutes before midnight, and 86 hours 37 minutes after midnight, the daily average being six hours, 24 minutes. Fifty-one public Bills were passed, and thirty-seven were dropped, or otherwise disposed of.

EXCHANGE RATE

WELLINGTON, March 10.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates, to-night gave a denial to persistent statements that have been in circulation in Wellington to-day to the effect that the Government proposed to alter the level of the exchange rate. He said that no change in the current rate, either up or down, was proposed'. While the export prices remain as they are, he said, there will be no reduction in the rate. There might have been some difference of opinion as to the wisdom of raising the rate. There could be no room for a difference of opinion as to the wisdom of maintaining the rate. To permit the rate to fall would be disastrous, Mr. Coates declared, and recognising this, the Government would maintain the exchange rate at the present level and ample notice would be given if at a future date an alteration was intended. For the present such a possibility could be dismissed as fantastic.