SHORT SESSION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20635, 10 December 1941, Page 4

SHORT SESSION

DOMINION PARLIAMENT THURSDAY ASSEMBLY SURVEY OF WAR (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The New Zealand Parliament is to assemble on Thursday afternoon to consider the war situation. Originally the intention was to summon Parliament next week, but after a further meeting of the War Cabinet yesterday Mr. Fraser said that the situation had been reviewed and it had now been decided that the House should reopen to-morrow. It would be necessary, continued Mr. Fraser, to have a formal opening by the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, because the sitting Vould mark the? beginning of a new session, the fourth of the present Parliament. Parliament would assemble at 2.30 p.m., after which tributes would be paid to members of the Legislature who died since the House was last in session in October. These included Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Allen (Hauraki), Lieutenant A. G. Hultquist (Bay of Plenty), both of whom died in their country’s service in the Middle East, and Mr. T. D. Burnett (Temuka), another sitting member. Following tributes of respect the House would adjourn until the evening at 7,30 o’clock, when members would consider the war situation.

Asked whether the discussion would be taken in secret, Mr. Fraser said that part would be in open session, but whether a secret session would be held on Thursday night or on Friday had not yet been determined. He added that he did not expect that it would be necessary for Parliament to sit beyond Friday.