NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9173, 13 October 1915, Page 10

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

THE SPEAKER CONGRATULATED.

The Prime Minister, in- congratulating the Speaker, the Chairman 01 Committees, and officers of ‘ the House on cue manner in which they had performed tnear duties, said it ‘ was possible representatives of.;'is ew Zealand might be callgd upon to take part in the councils of the'Empire, but no one would be' away for any lengthened period. Sir James Carroll took the opportunity: of 'alluding to the present position of affairs; in the House. Circumstances to which members had in no way contributed had necessitated the former tion of a National Ministry, and parly feeling had been sunk. He did not think there was anything to. regret, but it must be recognised that the National Government was on its trial. ‘ It had not been long in existence and mistakes happened in the best regulated families. It was to be hoped, that by next session there would be greater assimilation and cohesion. It seemed strange to view the present Government on the Treasury benches, and no Opposition. It had been a hard trial to the ex-Eeform party and the erstwhile Liberal .side.-.' Members did not know where they were, and exactly what to do.. The session would have "been a great one if it had been confined to entirely national matters and the most urgent forms-of legislation. It might be necessary in-the - future to apply the brake or the spur to the; National Government, according to the manner in which it acquitted, itself, hut it was desirable that any criticism should be of a thoroughly national character. (Hear, Ward, in congratulating the Speaker, remarked' that .all he had to say in reply to Sir James Carroll was that’ he was a great .believer in never crossing a bridge until he came to it. He looked forward to the recess and next session with special interest, because ,of the great responsibilities which had to be undertaken.. : , , , The Speaker, returning thanks, said that he had passed through two of the hardest sessions experienced during the last’ twenty years. The present one promised to be more arduous still, but the National Government had fortunately come into existence. . Mr A. S. Malcolm having returned thanks as Chairman of Committees, the House adjourned at 11.50 p.m;