PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 October 1944, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION

WELLINGTON, October 25. The closing stages of the present portion of the session of Parliament were comparatively quiet in the House of Representatives to-day. There was a short discussion on the question of the adjournment before members settled down to a debate on two Bills, both of which had been discussed in part at previous sittings. The Minister of ■ Defence (Mr. Jones) answering an urgent question by Mr. Gordon (Nat., Rangitikei) said that all shotgun and pea-rifle ammunition available for the destruction of rabbits and other pests had been released through trade channels. Mr. Jones said that shotgun ammunition was made locally, and production this year had been to the limit of available materials. The Minister also gave particulars of rifle ammunition distributed. Answering an urgent question by Mr. Murdoch (Nat., Marsden), who asked that meat grading for local marketing be deferred Until after the war to enable the greatest possible amount of first-grade meat to be exported, the Acting-Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr. Nordmeyer) said that the experiene of the operatoin of grading in Wellington was that an extension of grading would not reduce the quantity of first-grade meat available for export. The Prime Minister (Mr. FrAser) moved that the House at its rising should adjourn until Tuesday, November' 21, with a proviso that members could be called together earlier if such a course should prove necessary. He added the business of the House when it resumed should not occupy more than "three ‘weeks. Mr. Polson (Nat., Stratford), said that the Opposition could not see why they should adjourn when they had work to do. An adjournment with subsequent sittings would mean that country members would be away from their homes at a time of the year when there was a great deal of work to attend to. Mr. Fraser said that an adjournment had been forecast a long time ago, but there had been no opposition until the Leader of the Opposition, had raised the question last week. An adjournment had been decided upon because of the war situation. When is was first considered it was felt that there would probably be important developments before the end of the year. It was not so likely that they would take place now, but even, if there were no fresh developments the time of members would be fully occupied with the consideration of important matters, such as UNRRA and other international questions. Moreover Mr. Forde and Dr. Evatt were arriving next week to confer with the New Zealand Government, and that was a sufficient reason in itself for an adjournment. The motion was carried, and the House went on to a consideration of the Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill. The second reading of the Bill was carried and the measure was put through the committee stages. The Quarries Bill was then taken in committee, and both Bills were passed.

Mr. Fraser said that the position in regard to the war had not improved as had been hoped, but there was still a possibility of Germany collapsing, and if that happened Parliament would have to deal with peace terms. The House rose at 5.15 pan. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

_ WELLINGTON, October 26. , The Legislative Council, this morning, passed the Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill and the Quarries Bill. An amendment, to the former measure was introduced by the Leader of the Council (IVlv. McLagan), the object of this being to provide that two of the three members of the Tribunal set up by the measure shall be officers of the Department or the Post and Telegraph Association. Previously, . the Bill provided for only one member from the Association. The Council adj on rned until November 22.