PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 December 1944, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

LONG ADJOURNMENT

WELLINGTON, December 15. An announcement. that unless the war situation requires an earlier meeting, Parliament will not be called together before early in May, was made by Mr. Fraser when the House met this afternoon for the last time in 1944. Mr. Fraser said that he had discussed the matter with the members on both sides of the House, including the Leader of the Opposition, and the consensus of opinion was that this would probably be the best time for resumption, unless there was any serious war developments earlier requiring the attention of the House. An announcement of a reduction of interest rates to ex-servicemen was made by Mr. Nash. “Following the undertaking given by Mr. Skinner, as Minister of Rehabilitation, to make a statement before the House rose, about interest rates,” said Mr. Nash, “I desire to announce that from January next loans to ex-servicemen under the Rehabilitation Act will be at three per cent, per annum. All loans already granted under the Act will be adjusted to this rate; full details concerning the adjustment of mortgages already granted will be announced at an early date.” In moving the adjournment of the House, Mr. Fraser wished all the season’s greetings, and said that he would ask the Speaker to send a Christmas message to the forces overseas, expressing the hope of an early victory, and a determination of all in New Zealand to support them until victory was secured. Mr. Holland, in conveying good wishes to members, said he felt that they had done their duty to the best of their ability, and he believed the people of this country thought that also.

The Speaker said he was very jealous of the honour and dignity of Parliament. Parliament was the country’s democratic institution, and with all its faults and failings, was the bulwark of democracy. The House adjourned at 3.45, after members had sung the National Anthem.

CLERK TO RETIRE

WELLINGTON, December 15

The announcement that Mr. T. D. H. Hall, C.M.G., Clerk of the House of Representatives, would probably have retired by the time the House met again in May was made in the House by the Prime Minister to-day. Mr. Fraser said that Sir Charles Statham, as Speaker, and Mr. Hall, as Clerk, had been a combination probably unexcelled in parliaments anywhere. He hoped that their knowledge would not be lost, and Mr. Hall was being asked to compile an up-to-date manual on Parliamentary procedure. He hoped that Sir Charles Statham, as far as. his health would permit, would co- 1 operate in this.