DULL TIMES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 July 1925, Page 5

DULL TIMES.

MINISTERS ABSENT. / MR CORRIGAN’S COMPLAINT. FROM OUR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. WELLINGTON, July 22. Meet of the afternoon was spent by members of the House of Represent atives in commenting on the rather noncommittal answers which. Ministers hacl given to over 70 questions on the order paper. Each member had five minutes’ talk, which was interrupted by Mr Speaker right on time, whether a* sentence remained to be completed or not. Ministers took advantage of the opportunity to get to their offices, but Mr Corrigan (Patea), finding he could not tell the Minister for Finance to his face what he thought of the State Advances Department, complained that Ministers seemed to take question time as a joke. There were only two present, and he considered this was highly improper. Sir James Parr, who was representing an absent Cabinet, explained that the Minister for Finance was busy with his Budget, and that all his time was occupied. (Laughter.) He imagined that the Minister for Lands was preparing his annual report. Mr Wilford: “The department prepares it.” Mr Masters: “And the Minister for. Defence, where is he? There are nine Ministers away.” Sir James Parr humorously, suggested that liis colleague was either receiving a denutation or having a cup of tea, as this was about the right time. He thought that members were really not troubled, and that Mr Corrigan was more jocular than otherwise. Mr Corrigan: ‘ “No, it is serious.” (Laughter.)