Imperial Conference Questions Will Come Before Parliament

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7293, 1 August 1930, Page 6

Imperial Conference Questions Will Come Before Parliament

PREMIER GIVES OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION. Per !'r"« Association. WELLINGTON. Last Night. In the House to-day tho Prime Minister made a statement ou tho subject of the Imperial Conference. Ho said tentative agenda had been dc* elded upon and the subjects to be considered fell under the following heads: (1) Inter-Imperial relations; (2) foreign policy and defence.; (3) economic .questions. The leader of the Opposition (Mr Coates) asked the Prime Minister whether he would set aside a day to discuss the questions that would arise at the conference and whether lie would submit a subsidiary report indicating the Government's views on them. While h c realised that there wero some subjects which could not bo discussed without a breach of confidence there were other questions which bad already been quito freely debated in other Dominion Governments. Mr Forbes said he would set aside a day for a discussion of tho questions as soon as possible. Hc would see what could bo dono in the way of meeting the other request made by Mr Coates.

Mr Holland, leader of tho Labour party: “What day docs the Prime Minister intend to leave for the conference’’’ Mr Forbes: “That depends entirely on the House which has several critical questions before it. For instance there is a no-confidence motion before it.’’ Mr Samuel: “Are you going by tho same route as Mr Mackenzie King? ( Laughter.) On tho motion of tho Prime Minister it was decided to suspend the Standing Orders to enablo the financial debate to be continued until twelve o’clock tonight. Mr Coates asked whether it was intended the debate should be of a full dress nature. Was tho Government going to take part in the speeches. Mr H. E. Holland said while he had no objection to a suspension of tho Standing Orders on the present occasion when tho circumstances were unusual ho thought the House should try to observe fixed hours as far as possible, even if it meant summoning Parliament earlier and continuing until all the business had been completed. It would be preferable to have a longer session rather than continue debates into tho early morning hours. Mr Forbes said the Government did not propose to take further part in the ciebato until the nc-confidcnco motion, had been disposed of. Members of his party would then speak in the ordinary financial debate. [As indicated elsewhere the noconfidence debate concluded during the evening.]