PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 29 June 1945, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

BRIEF FORMAL BUSINESS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, June 28 The House of Representatives met immediately after the opening of Parliament yesterday afternoon by the Governor-General (Sir Cyril Newall). Only formal business was taken and the sitting was brief. The first step was the swearing-in of the two new members—Mrs G. H. Ross (National, Hamilton), and Mr M. Ratana (Government, Western Maori). M's Ross was sponsored by Messrs T. L. Macdonald (Mataura), and S. W. Smith (Bay of Islands) and Mr Ratana by the Government Whips (Messrs A. S. Richards and D. W. Coleman). Mrs Ross is the sixth woman member to sit in the House of Representatives. The only other woman member ot the present Parliament is Miss Mabel Howard (Government, Christchurch East). A feature of the formal business was the number of motions for leave of absence for members from both sides of the House on account of illness or family bereavements. In accordance with the usual practice the Acting-Leader of the House (Mr Nash) moved that the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill be read a first time pro forma, to which the House agreed. After Mr E. P. Meachen (Government, Marlborough) had given notice to move that a respectful address be presented to his Excellency in reply to his Excellency’s speech the House, on the motion of Mr Nash, adjourned "at 3.15 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-day The intention is to begin the Address-in-Reply debate next Wednesday evening. Mr H. E. Cbmbs (Government, Wellington Suburbs) will second the. motion. The promotion of Mr T. H. McCombs (Government. Lyttelton) to be a Parliamentary Under-Secretary and the death of Mr J. W. Munro (Government. D.medin North) have resulted in some slight alterations in seating in the House. Mr McCombs who formerly occupied one of the front cross benches now sits with another Under-Secretary (Mr J. Thorn) in the back rows behind Ministers. Mr R. M. Macfarlane (Government, Christchurch South) occupies the front cross bench formerly occupied by Mr' Munfo. Mr Ratana sits with Mr T. Omana (Government, Eastern Maori).

On the Opposition side of the House Mrs Ross has been given the bench formerly occupied by Mr H. T. Morton (Waitemata), who is now sitting with Mr F. W. Gillespie (Hurunui) in one of I he rear cross benches.