PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 51, 27 January 1933, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

FIOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

NOTICE OF MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jan.; 26. After an adjournment for seven weeks to enable the Government to formulate a policy to meet the requirements of the economic situation, the second session of the twenty-fourth Parliament was resumed at 2.30 today.

In consequence of his resignation of the portfolio of Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Downie Stewart vacated his seat on the Treasury benches and occupied a seat alongside Mr R. W. Hawke in the cross-benches. The new member for Motueka, Mr K. J. Hoiyoake was sworn in, Messrs J. Bitchener and J. N. Massey acting as sponsors. Mr H. G. It. Mason gave notice of his intention to introduce the Oneliunga and One Tree Hill Water Supply Protection Bill. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) gave notice of his intention to move :—“That the Government does not possess the confidence of either the House or the country.”

Mr Holland asked the Prime Minister whether ho would make a .statement to the House covering the legislation to be dealt with and the order in which it would be brought down. Mr Forbes: I don’t know that I can make a statement covering the whole of the session at the present time, especially in view of the fact that the Leader of the Opposition has just given notice of a no-confidence motion. Jt i.s intended to introduce the Banking Indemnity Bill to-morrow. The Bill is an urgent one, but the Government will allow reasonable time for discussion. The Prime Minister added that there was no intention to curtail the debate on what was one of the most important matters to be dealt with, but he thought it would be the general wish of members to bring to as early an end -as possible what already had been a protracted session. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

Replying to Mr Stallworthy, Hon. J. A. Young said the Director-Gen-eral of Health had kept in close touch with the development of the influenza epidemic in Britain and Europe, and every precaution was being taken to prevent its spread to the Dominion. The Leader of the Opposition asked whether, in view of the widespread want in homes in the Duller district, the Government would place that district on the same footing as the four main centres as far as relief was concerned.

Hon. A. Hamilton said that, though the Government appreciated the posi--ion in the Duller district, it was not possible at this stage to grant Mr Holland’s request.

Mr Holland also drew attention to conditions at Blackball, and asked whether sufficient allocations would be provided to relieve families which, according to report by officials of the Grey Hospital Board, were suffering extreme privation. Hon. A. Hamilton said the extent of the was determined by the number of people eligible for relief, and the amount of money available.

On the motion of Mr Forbes it was decided that the House sit to-morrow from 10.30 a.in. till 5.30 p.m. Mr W. J. Jordan was granted leave of absence for the remainder of the session on account of."ill-health. JUDICATURE AMENDMENT BILL. The Judicature Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s Message, and accorded urgency. Explaining the measure, Hon. J. G. Cobbe said ordinary sittings of the Court of Appeal were fixed by the Governor-General by Order-in-Council, and might be so fixed for several sittings hi advance. The purpose of tlie present Bill was to enable the Governor-General-in-Council to appoint a special sitting of the Court to deal with any urgent matter without disturbing'tlie fixtures that might already have been made for ordinary sittings. At any special sitting the jurisdiction of the Court ol Appeal might be exercised by any three Judges of the Supreme Court, who might be of the same or of different divisions of the Court of Appeal. The immediate necessity for tlie Bill was to enable the Court to deal with the appeal of Edward Tarrant, who had been convicted of murder. In tlie ordinary course of events the Court would sit some time in March, and it was considered the appeal should he dealt with at tlie earliest possible moment, he added. The draft of tlie Bill had been approved by the Chief Justice. The Bill was put through all stages without debate and. passed. SERVICES OF FORMER LEGISLATORS. The House adopted the customary motion recording a high sense of appreciation of the faithful services rendered to New Zealand by the late Mr James Horn (member for Wakatipu, 1919-28) and the late Mr H. L. Tapley (member for Dunedin North, 192528), and expressing sympathy with the relatives. Referring to Mr Horn, Mr Forbes said his name would long be associated with the development of Central Otago. Fie had been a man who had made many friends wherever he had gone. Referring to Mr Tapley, Mr Forbes said he had been characterised by that fine, breezy personality of those wlio had associated with “men who go down to the sea in ships.” The Prime Minister’s remarks were endorsed by the Leader of the Opposition and a number of other speakers. The House adjourned at 3.32 till 10.30 to-morrow as a mark of respect for the memory of the deceased legislators.