HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9090, 8 July 1915, Page 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

RESIGNATION OF THE CLERK. The House met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. The Speaker read the resignation of the Oferfc of the House (Mr H- Otterson), .who was retiring. after serving in yanious capacities for over forty years. MrOttefeoh expressed in his letter his appreciation pf, the kindnesses", ho had received from , six Speakers and from successive Ministries and Parlhuqonts. : The Speaker said that the retiring Clerk was a man of great ability and ,wide knowledge. Parliament was indebted to him, for valuable service over • a long period of years and for several valuable /publications. The Prime Minister moved that the Speaker should ho requested to -convey I to Mr Otterson on, his retirement the House’s acknowledgments of his long and valuable services during many years and its appreciation of the advice and assistance he had been - at all times willing to render to members. Mr : Otterson had - been ’an able and obliging officer, with a full knowledge of the forms of the House and'an earnest desire to maintain the high traditions of the New Zealand Parliament. • The leader of'the Opposition seconded the motion. Ho said that he could hot praise the "services of Mr Otterson too highly. His regret; was that ; the retiring Clerk was going to leave New Zealand. ! , , , ~ Mr Wilford (Hutt) acknowledged the work that Mr Otterson had done for Wellington city in the compilation of standing orders for the ‘ City Council. The Speaker " said that the following appointments had been.. made -in consequence of Mr Otterson/a retirement :-r Olork, Mr A. V. Lo>yo: Clerk Assistant, Mr B. W. Kane; Second Clerk Assistant, Mr W. E, Dasent. LACK OP SHIPPING.

Sir Joseph ■ "Ward referred) -to the Jack of shipping at the Bluff, where there was 1 serious congestion in the stores owing to the accumulation 'of produce intended for the Commonwealth authorities. ■ •_- - . ■ ■ The Prime Minister said j that after the matter had been, mentioned on a. previous occasion; he had arranged .with the Union Company to send a large ' steamer to the, Bluff to load, for Australia. He would try to make further arrangements. WELCOME TO RETURNING SOLDIERS.

Mr Wilford (Hutt) asked if the Minister for Defence had made any arrangements for- a public welcome to fib® wounded- troops who would be arriving in ,"Wellington shortly aboard a. troopship. Ho thought that a public holiday should be proclaimed uud the community given an opportunity to show its appreciation of work of the man who had played their part at the front. The Hon. Haines . Allen said ’ that every arrangement had been made to give the men “a fit and proper welcome,” but he was not sure that a public holiday and a crowd would provide the, sort of welcome the wounded men would appreciate. Mr Wiilford: "1 don’t know their condition.” Ms "Alien: "Some. of the men are •well-enough to go to their homes. Other men will go to the hospitals. A certain number will be sent to Auckland, some will stay in Wellington and Palmerston North, others will go to Christchurch and Dunedin. Some will.go to convalescent homes. 1 Would be very glad to arrange for a public welcome, but it is difficult to do when the men are sick and wounded.” NEW BILLS.

The following bills were introduced and read" a first time;—Lights on Vehicles Bill (Mr Buddo): Waipu County Council (Tokoraarru Bay Harbour) Grant and Empowering Bill (Mr. MacDonald) i Expeditionary Forces Bill (Hon-. James Allen) i'Tauxanga Foreshore Testing and Endowment. Bill (Hon. W. H. Horries),