PRESSURE APPLIED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17951, 1 December 1932, Page 7

PRESSURE APPLIED

WORK OF THE SESSION THE CLOSURE UTILISED (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The sign of pressure being applied on the Opposition this session by the Government occurred in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, when the Minister of Health moved the closure on a clause in the Hospital Bill. The clause related to the proposal to give tho Governor-General power by Order-in-Councii to close or restrict the activities of institutions under the jurisdiction of hospital hoards, and the Opposition contended that the power might he used to the detriment of the public health facilities now enjoyed by the people. The discussion had dragged on for several hours, and the Minister brought it to a sudden termination hv the application of the closure motion, which was used for the first time this session. The motion was carried by 38 votes to 18, but when the'clause was put to the vote, the Government found itself opposed by four of its supporters. The proposal was upheld by 34 votes to 24. Trior to the application of flic closure, Mr. Smith read a list of subjects which he ruled could not be discussed on the gmuml of tedious repetition. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labor, Manukau) came in conflict with the chair by proceeding to discuss these subjects, and on being called to order, declared I hat he had as much right as the Prime Minister or the Minister in charge of the bill to discuss any subject he wished, lie was prepared to resign his seat and contest an election on this issue. For the most nart the discussion was carried on by a thin House, aiul on two occasions a nuorum was called for. I lie committee stage of the bill was concluded shortly after 10 o’clock. A commencement was then made on tne committee stage of the Urban Farm Lands Rating Bill, and the measure was still under discussion when the. House adjourned at midnight.