PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1940, Page 10

PARLIAMENT

TEN MINUTES’ SITTING.

[per press association.] WELLINGTON, June 12. When the House of Representatives met at 7.30 to-night, after an adjournment since Friday afternoon, it sat for exactly ten minutes and then adjourned until 7.30 to-morrow night. One day’s leave of absence was granted Mr. R. M. MacFarlane (Government, Christchurch North), on account of military duties, and three days’ leave was granted to Mr. D. C. Kidd (National, Waitaki) on account of illness in the family. When formal business had been disposed of, the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), announced that he had had a discussion before the House met, with the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Hamilton), regarding to-night’s business, and how that business would be affected by representations he would be able to make to Mr. Hamilton in the name of the Government Party, and which he hoped would open up a full opportunity for a united effort as far as the House was concerned on behalf of the country and the British Commonwealth in the war, in which they were engaged. In view of this, Mr. Hamilton had indicated that he would prefer not to open the Address-in-Reply debate to-night. Obviously Mr. Hamilton would be at a disadvantage if he continued the debate, having regard to the fact that a proposition had been put forward in respect of which there had been no time to formulate the details.

Mr. J. A. Lee (Grey Lynn): How about those who know nothing of 3 the position. Mr. Fraser: They will know all about it to-morrow.

There was no intention, he continued, to infringe on anyone's rights or restrict discussion, but at the present moment he considered the best course would be to adjourn the debate until the following night. He moved accordingly. Mr. Hamilton said he had expected to speak to-night. He had a pretty good speech ready. (Laughter). However, in view of the talk which he had had with Mr. Fraser, he readily agreed that the wiser course was to postpone the debate.

Mr: Fraser’s motion was carried, and the House adjourned.