PARLIAMENT DELAYED

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 August 1939, Page 3

PARLIAMENT DELAYED

SEQUEL TO RAILWAY WASHOUT [per press association.] ’WELLINGTON. August 22. Train delays arc sometimes responsible for unexpected and far-reaching happenings, and last night’s subsidence in the Main Trunk railway near To Kuiti proved no exception to the rule. It was instrumental in causing an adjournment, of the House of Representatives this afternoon, probably the first adjournment of this nature J that lias happened within the history of the New Zealand Parliament. At i 2.3 i), jiiinctually, the House met, but the (irst surprise came when the Clerk of the House. Mr, T, D. Hall, an-j nounced that the Speaker. Mr. H. E. Barnard, was unavoidably absent. The Chairman of Committees, Mr. R. McKeon, occupied the chair, and read the customary prayer at the opening of Parliament. The Acting-Leader of the House, Mr. Fraser, then announced that, owing io the train delay, there had been a slight hitch in the arrangements for

the continuance of the Budget debate. He asked leave to confer on the matter with the Government and .the Opposition whips. Messrs Fraser, J. O’Brien and H. S. S. Kyle then had a hasty conference on the floor of the House, and Mr. Fraser suggested that the House should adjourn till the. ringing of the bells. This was agreed to, and the House accordingly adjourned at 2.33 p.m., three minutes after the sitting had commenced. ' The Speaker, Mr. Barnard, and thirteen members, including Mr. J. Thorn (Govt., Thames), who was scheduled to be the first speaker in continuation of the Budget debate to-day, had been passengers on the Main Trunk express hound for Wellington from Auckland, which was held up by the subsidence of the line at Te Kuiti. They walked across the obstruction, and came on to Wellington by a fast rail-car, which reached here at 2.13 p.m., and the adjournment at 2.33 was taken to allow, the members to have some lunch, and to settle down after then’ arduous trip. The House resumed again at 3.30.