END OF SESSION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 11 March 1933, Page 6

END OF SESSION

ADJOURNMENT LAST EVENING “ONE OE MOST IMPORTANT IN HISTORY” FAR-REACHING LEGISLATION (From “The Mail’s” Parliamertary Reporter) WELLINGTON, This lav. The session of Parliament endec last night. Moving the adjournment o' the House the Prime Minister, the light Hon. G. W. Forbes, said the cuitaiu was being rung down on one of the most important sessions in histiry. Far reaching legislation rendered absolutely necessary by the econonic position of the Dominion had burn passed and trusted it would to sone degree assist citizens to face the dificulties in front of them. Membeis had experienced an arduous session lilt had come through it in accordance witi the countrv’s traditions.

Mr Forbes then paid tributes to the Speaker, the Chairman of Committees and officers associated with the public buildings. He said he understood Mr W. Dasent, Clerk-Assistant in the House of Representatives was about to sever his connection with Parliament after over 50 years service and he expressed appreciation of the valuable services that officer had rendered. DEBT CONVERSION ill- Forbes said lie considered the New Zealand Debt Conversion Act must without doubt be placed at the head of the list of measures passed during the session and he paid a tribute to the manner in which the Minister of Finance, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, at such short notice had thoroughly grasped all the intricate details associated with the Bill lie had had to sponsor. Concluding, Sir Forbes thanked the Leader of the Opposition and members generally for the manner in which they had assisted the transaction of the business of the session. “CITIZENS WILL HEAVE SIGH OF RELIEF” The Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, thanked Mr’ Forbes for the reference to himself and his colleagues and said he could heartily reciprocate. He also desired to associate himself with everything that had been said concerning the Speaker and the Chairman of Committees and officers of the House. Continuing Mr Holland said the session was. ending under circumstances unique in the history of the country. He thought it regrettable that tens of thousands of citizens would heave a sigh of relief when Parliament adjourned. Many people had remarked to him that they would be glad when the session was over because they never knew what mischief Parliament would be doing next. He hoped that by the time the House met again there would be a vast change for the better in the economic conditions of the world, and that this change would reflect itself in New Zealand’s own conditions. Mr Coates associated himself with the tributes paid by Mr Forbes and Mr Holland. Referring to the conversion he said Britain’s conversion of 2000 millions had struck the imagination and won the applause from the whole world. New Zealand’s, attempt to convert '£115,000,000 might look small in comparison, but in proportion to the population it represented an even bigger task. Britain and Australia had carried out conversion schemes and although conditions in those countries were not nearly so satisfactory as we would wish they were certainly better to the. extent that lower interest rates had been secured. It was New Zealand’s turn to take this decisive step towards putting its house in order and she could not, and would not, fail in contrast, with Britain and Australia.

The Speaker, the Hon. Sir Charles Statham, and the Chairman of Committees, Mr S. G. Smith, expressed thanks for the tributes that had been paid them and their appreciation of the assistance members had given them in carrying. out their duties. The session ended with the rising of the House at 7.15 p.m.