FRANTIC RUSH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26614, 10 November 1947, Page 4

FRANTIC RUSH

END OF SESSION MANY NEW BILLS TO BE INTRODUCED DELAY IN PREPARATION Political Correspondent WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. Last week, only one of the 20 new Bills yet to be dealt with made its appearance. This was merely a formal measure—the Customs Amendment Bill—validating resolutions already passed concerning tobacco and beer duties and sales tax on certain foodstuffs. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, has virtually admitted that the reason for the delay in bringing forward other Bills is the pressure on the law draughtsmen in completing the end-of-session crop of Bills. He indicated on Thursday that he hoped to finish the session by November 26. This means that in the remaining two weeks and a-half there will be a frantic rush. Already, with the regular midnight sittings and the heavy committee work, members are beginning to feel jaded, and any member taking undue advantage of the opportunities to speak—so prolonging the proceedings —is liable to incur the displeasure of his own colleagues. Questions have slackened off, as there will be no further opportunities for the circulation and discussion of , replies, but one which appeared to cause a flutter on the Ministerial benches was asked by Mr W. S. Goosman on Wednesday when he asked if it was correct that in addition to the 66 Chrysler motor cars lately purchased, 12 of the latest model Buicks have been purchased for Ministerial use. Following the criticism of the Chrysler purchase and the buying of a Rolls-Royce for Mr Jordan, the Government has become very touchy on the subject of motor cars, and after Mr Goosman’s question there was a noticeable questioning of each other among the occupants of the Ministerial benches. Mr Fraser said he knew nothing of the matter, but Opposition members have stated in the lobbies that Mr Goosman’s inquiry is well founded. A Dramatic Incident The most dramatic incident of the week happened on Wednesday evening when Mr Nordmeyer hinted that changes in the Opposition leadership might be expected. . This drew a chorus of protests from the Opposition benches. Subsequently, Mr McCombs, who has new moved to the second row of the Ministerial benches, charged Mr F. W. Doidge with having reflected on Mr Nordmeyer’s veracity, whereupon Mr Doidge stood up, waving his arms, and declared, “Then I will withdraw those words and say it was a downright lie.” To charge an opponent with lying is a serious breach and to use such a strong term as “ a downright lie ” is about the extreme unparliamentary language.

Mr Speaker was on his feet at the time dealing with Mr McCombs’s original point of order but, in view of the high feeling generated by Mr Nordmeyer's remark, he tempered justice with discretion so that the incident was amicably settled, Mr Nordmeyer insisting that he had spoken only in jocular terms, while Mr Doidge, who seldom exceeds parliamentary proprieties, withdrew his reflection on tne Minister. Future of Mr Mason

The lobbies have been buzzing during the past week with a fresh crop of rumours regarding the future of the Minister of Justice, Mr Mason. Ever since the general election, when the Government’s Left Wing was strengthened, there have been reports that Mr Mason, who does not see eye to eye with some of his colleagues in many matters, was to receive some other appointment, but various developments, including the deaths of Mr Sullivan and Mr O’Brien, have intervened to postpone any action. Lately, however, the transfer of the Education portfolio, in which he was deeply interested, to Mr McCombs, has caused renewed speculation as to his future. There is reason to believe that the Left Wingers seek a stronger representation in Cabinet. Mr M. Moohan is freely mentioned as a probability for early promotion. Voluminous evidence has been submitted to the Labour Bills Committee on the Workers’ Compensation Bill. Interest will be created when the Bill returns to the House on Tuesday. The departure of Mr Nash, originally fixed for November 12, has been postponed on account of oressure of business. The date has now been tentatively fixed as November 14.