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Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1945, Page 2

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VALfebicToftY sPEEciffi§ Wellington, December 7. In View of the difficulties confronting the nations of the world, the responsibility upon those who represented their fellow citizens in Parliament was tremendously grave, said the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) today, when moving, the adjournment of the House of Representatives at the conclusion of a long session, extending over five and a-half months. Relationships with the rest of the world were Very important, he said, and one coUld only hope that the considerations of fair play and of democracy would rule throughout the world, and that every nation, however strong, would decide to use its power for the benefit of mankind, and not for its destruction. Whoever occupied seats in Parliament would have to be guided by wisdom and by an overwhelming desire to do what was right. Reviewing the session, which, he said, had been long, and in some respects trying, Mr Fraser said that a particularly heavy load had been carried by Mr Nash and Mr O’Brien. They had had heavy responsibilities in regard to the legislation brought down. He thanked the Ministers and members of both sides of the House for their work. In spite of a few differences between the parties, there had been an amount of co-operation in the discharging of the business of the House that had not been excelled in the past. Mr Fraser thanked the Speaker, Mr. Schramm; the Chairman of Committees, Mr McKeen; and the officers of the House, the members of the Press Gallery and the others associated with the work of Parlia-. ment, for their co-operation. He extended Christmas greetings and best wishes for the New Year to all New Zealanders, including those abroad, and the men and women of the Forces. He hoped that this Christinas, which would be the first peace Christmas for six years, would be happy and the prelude to a happy, peaceful year for everyone in the Dominion. He hoped that the coming year would witness great strides towards lasting world peace and human brotherhood. Mr Holland, Leader of the Opposition, said that the occasion was one of regret, because, although members might differ politically, they formed friendships from all parts of the House, and the ends of sessions meant the temporary breaking of those friendships. He thanked Mr Fraser for his generous references to the Opposition, which realised it had an important ’function, and had carried it out to the best of the ability at their command; Mr Schramm, both in his capacity as Mr Speaker and as a man for his influence on the good conduct of the House; and Mr McKeen and the Ministers for their courtesy to the Opposition at all times. He said none could fail to be impressed with Mr Fraser’s sincere desire that the future should be watched and administered to the best of the ability at their command. This country} as a vital part of the British Empire, could play an important part in world progress, and he hoped members would continue to labour in the service of the publie. Mr Schramm, acknowledging the tributes paid him, said that, despite the fact that the sitting hours had been long, and things on occasions became somewhat hectic, particularly early in the morning, the Parliament of the Dominion was one of the best-behaved Parliaments m the world. It had proved itself, in common with Parliamentary institutions elsewhere, a bulwark of liberty. The public did not realise that the work of members was as strenuous as any work, and that, while members might legislate a 40-hour week for otheis, they could not achieve that for themselvss. The House rose at 5.10 after the singing of the National Anthem.