“CLOSER STILL”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21853, 25 October 1945, Page 6

“CLOSER STILL”

VOTING IN HOUSE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHOICE OF MINISTER (P.m WELLINGTON,'Oct. 25. “Closer still Getting a bit shaky,” declared Opposition members jocularly after the Government had defeated an Opposition amendment by only two votes during .the committee stage of the Employment Bill debate in the House of Representatives last evening. This amendment, which was aimed at ensuring that the Minister of Employment should be a member of the House of Representatives and not of the Legislative Council, was defeated by 3G to 34 and followed an earlier division in which the voting was 37 to 34. Mr. T. C. Webb (Opp., Kaipara) who moved an amendment that a, new clause be added requiring the Minister of Employment to be a member of the House of Representatives, said it was an open secret that the National Ser-

vice Department was to merge with the new department to be set up under the bill and therefore a gentleman who was not a member of the House of Representatives would probably become Minister of Employment. . The time had arrived when the Minister in charge of an important department of State should be in the House of Representatives. where he could be questioned and cross-examined. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, retorted that the Government must have a free hand in regard to ministers taking particular portfolios. Mr. McLagan had given wonderful service and he. the Prime Minister, took full responsibility for his administration. . , After the division the bill was put through the remaining stages and passed.