PARLIAMENT CLOSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20130, 15 December 1928, Page 15

PARLIAMENT CLOSES.

1 SPECIAL SESSION ENDS.

finahce bill passed.

MILLION MORE TO SPEND.

HISTORIC SITTING OF HOUSE

[by teleghaph.—special nr.rop.TKn.] WELLINGTON. Friday.

What was termed by the Prime Minister. Sir Joseph Ward, " a short and somewhat historic session" was concluded in the House of Representatives shortly after one o'clock this afternoon. The Finance Bill, which authorises additional expenditure totalling £1,175.000, in the current financial year, was passed unamended. The session, the first of the 23rd Parliament, opened on December 4, the business being to test tho state of parties following the general election three weeks earlier. In the no confidence debate that ensued the Reform Government was defeated on December 7, and on December 10 the United Cabinet was sworn in to take over the reins from the Reform Government, which had had 16 years of continuous office, with the exception of the period of the Coalition Government during tho war. Only one bill, a finance measure, was passed. There were only three divisions, but all had a certain interest. Tho first was called for by Sir Joseph Ward when still Leader of the Opposition, against the printing of certain reports from the Scientific and Industrial Bwe&rch Department, but he found Labtmr voting with the Reform Government against him. The next division was the one which turned the Reform Government out of office by 50 votes to 28. The third division was to-day on the motion to adjourn, an occasion for a display of mock heroics, when all sorts of political opponents link arms and walk into the same lobby. Strange to say the division to-day resulted in a tie, 34 each, and the Speaker decided to give his casting .vote with the ayes.

Both the Prime Minister and the Leader of ♦he Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, extended seasonal, greetings to the Speaker, Sir Charles Statham, and Lady Statham. In reply, the Speaker said ho desired to congratulate the party which won tho no confidence motion on its bearing in the hour of victory, and he similarly desired to commend tho party deposed from the Treasury benches on its manly bearing in defeat. As referee, so to speak, he had been impressed by the good feeling on all sides of the House during a momentous session. Sir Charles said on this occasion ho had allowed a good deal tnore latitude from the chair than he should have, but he assured members he would be stricter when they met again in June. He reciprocated the good; wishes extended to him.

PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER.

EARLY INSPECTION TOUR.

INVESTIGATION AT ARAPUNI.

[by telegraph.—special reporter.] WELLINGTON. Friday.

Believing that he can learn more by visits of inspection than through ponderous files of correspondence, valuable as the latter are, the new Minister of Public Works, Hon. E. A. Ransom, proposes early in the new year to make a tour of nil the major works under the control of his department. Mr. Ransom stated today he was fortunate in that he woul,d be able to devote his undivided interests to the administration of his portfolio, as he has already made arrangements for the management of his farming interests in the Dannevirke district.

The Minister expects to undertake an extensive tour toward the end of January, but his has not yet mapped out a definite itinerary. One of the works he is particularly anxious to inspect is the Arapuni hydro-electric development scheme. Mr. Ransom was asked in tho House this week whether he would investigate the reports that the scheme had been jeopardised by the alleged instability of the rock foundations at the dam and power house sites. He proposes to make a careful investigation into tho allegations and the criticism of rebuttal offered shortly afterwards. If it appears that further investigation is warranted ho will approach the Cabinet with a recommendation to that effect.

WORK OF THE HOUSE.

LONGER DAYTIME SITTINGS.

COMMITTEE TO INQUIRE

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday.

The practicability of introducing daylight sittings for Parliament is to be inquired into during the recess by a Select Committee set up by the House of Representatives to-day on the motion of the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward. Tho committee is to "consider such amendment of the procedure and standing orders of tho House as will facilitate the passage of its business." Tho Prime Minister explained that the main object concerned the daylight sittings. Ho considered daylight sittings would bo a good thing for ihe country. (Hear, hear.) The personnel of the committee is as follows:—Tho Speaker, Sir Charles Statham; tho Primo Minister; tho Minister of Lands, Hon. G. W. Forbes; the Minister of Native Affairs, Sir Apirana Ngata; the Chairman of Committees, Mr. S. G. Smith; the Leader of the. Opposition, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates; Hon. W. Downio Stewart (Dunedin West), Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston), Mr. P. Eraser (Wellington Central), Mr. 11. E. Holland (Buller), and Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton). The committee has until next August to report. The proposal of the Prime Minister to consider the question of Parliament sitting during more daylight hours is not altogether a new idea in New Zealand's Parliamentary history. It recalls the experiment tried by the House of Representatives on the initiation of the late Mr. Seddon, at tho beginning of tho session of 1904, when tho then Premier had just recovered from a serious illness. At the opening of the session it was Agreed that the House for four weeks should meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10.30 a.m. and rise at 10.30 p.m., with the usual luncheon and dinner intervals. The resolution was carried out, but at the end of the fourth week the House reVerted to tho custom of meeting at 2.30 p.m. and sitting until lato in tho evening or the early hours of the morning. The experiment, which was not repeated, Boon faded from general memory, and it is How remembered by only a very few old habitues.