Federal Parliament Taking Day Off For The Melbourne Cup

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26916, 30 October 1948, Page 7

Federal Parliament Taking Day Off For The Melbourne Cup

N.Z.P.A.—Copyright Rec. 11 p.m. CANBERRA, Oct. 29. Opposition members protested in the House of Representatives today when the Prime Minister, Mr Chifley, moved the adjournment of the House until Wednesday because of the running of the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. “I realise there is a race in Melbourne,” said Mr H. L. Anthony (Country Party), “but it is not important enough to warrant the House taking a day off. There is a big list of business, and if the House is going to rise as is rumoured in the middle of November, there will not be enough time to consider everything properly. I can foresee that towards the end of the debate it will be guillotined on the ground that there is not enough time.” Mr J. B. Abbott (Country Party) said that 98 per cent, of the people could not give themselves a holiday, nor did they want to see members of Parliament who had recently raised their own salaries taking a trip to Melbourne at the expense of the Commonwealth to see the Melbourne Cup. Mr Chifley replied that the over-riding factor was that the Hansard staff and Government Printing Office had been working under a great strain.