PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1931, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

THE HOUSE. A LONG SITTING. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON', March 24.. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 yesterday. Mr Sullivan gave liotive of intention to introduce tile Workers Annual Leave Bill.

Mr Barnard asked when the earthquake legislation would be ready, and whether it would be given precedence to current business. “ Air Forbes replied that, the legislation would be ready bv Thursday evening. He would bring it down then if possible. The measure at present before the House should have been dealt- with by then. Mr Parry---“ You’re very optimist ic.” The Prime Minister moved for urgency for the committal stages of the Finance Bill and any proceedings relative thereto. Labour members called for a division and the motion was adopted by 45 to 22. Messrs Fletcher and Black together with Labour members voting against it. Mr Fraser then moved as follows—

“That it. lie an instruction to the. committee of the whole on the Finance Bill that it ha s power made by provision in the Bill for ensuring ■ the cost of living, including food. clothing and rent, he lowered simultaneously with and in proportion to the amount of reduction of salaries of public service employees, as a specified part to the Bill, and simultaneously with and in proportion to the amount of reduction of wages as ordered from time to time by the Arbitration Court under part 2 of the Bill.” Mr Stewart raised a point of order. He submitted the motion could not be accepted on one of two grounds; either

because power to make amendments was already possessed by the Committee or because it sought to subvert the whole procedure, which the Bill designed to establish. Mr F raser contended that the motion complied with the terms of the standing order in relation t<> instructions, because its terms were relevant to the contents of the Bill, while on the other hand, there was not a clause in the Bill, to which it was possible in the ordinary manner, to move an amendment, to provide for the object embodied in the instruction. After others had submitted their views, flic Speaker ruled the motion

was in order, because it was not subversive to tlie principles of the Bill, and at the same time there were not provision in the general instruction to committee giving power which the motion sought to confer upon it. The debate on Air Fraser's motion was in progress when the Tele-graph Office closed at- 2 a m.

I A STONEWALL. 1 ! WELLINGTON. March 24. I <)„ passing the Prime Minister's urI geucy motion yesterday, the House of | Representatives embarked upon what, I no doubt, will he the longest sitting j of the session. I Air Fraser's motion seeking to confer ujjoii the Committee of the whole, powers of making provision in the Bill ensuring a fall in the cost of living, simultaneously with reduced wages was debated till 2.35 a.m. A division was then taken, and the motion was defeated bw 4fi to 22. Alessrs Rushworth and Black, together with the Labour members, supporting it. The House then went into Committee on the Bill, and the short title was still under discussion when nt 0.55 a.m. the Prime Minister moved that the Chairman should leave the chair, explaining that, there were two i earthquake committee meetings this i morning. ! The sitting will be resumed at 2-30 I p.m. J With the exception of short speech-; cs by Alessrs Lysnnr and Waite, the | whole time was occupied by Labour i members.