FIRST PART OF SESSION ENDS

Southland Times, Issue 23380, 11 December 1937, Page 8

FIRST PART OF SESSION ENDS

Greetings Exchanged By Leaders

PARLIAMENT TO MEET AGAIN ON MARCH 1 AUTHORITY FOR EARLIER RESUMPTION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, December 10. After an exchange of Christmas greetings between the Government and the Opposition and the singing of the National Anthem, the first part of the present Parliamentary session ended in the House of Representatives early this afternoon. Before the adjournment, with its traditional mock division, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) outlined the business with which Parliament will be required to deal when it resumes on March 1 next year. Authority was taken to meet earlier than that date if necessary. The House met at 12.15 o’clock to receive the report of the Legislative Council on the last four Bills of the session, the Upper House having assembled at 10.30 to deal with these measures. After the formal business had been transacted, notice was given by the Prime Minister that he would move when the House reassembled next year the ratification of a number of conventions passed by the League of Nations at Geneva.

On behalf of the Government, Mr Savage expressed appreciation to the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) and members of his party for their assistance during the session. There might have been differences of opinion, he said, but the Opposition criticism was probably helpful and if they could enter the festive season without any feeling of ill-will it was all to the good. He hoped there would be no reason to regret anything done by the Government. Mr Savage also expressed appreciation of the help given by the Speaker (the Hon. W. E. Barnard), the chairman of committees (Mr E. J. Howard), the officers of the House, the staff of Parliament and the officials of the Public Service as a whole. As usual they had done their work faithfully and well and he extended to all the compliments of the season and heartiest good wishes. The assistance received from members of the Press Gallery was also appreciated and relations with them had been most cordial.

The Leader of the Opposition reciprocated the good wishes and feelings expressed by Mr Savage. The session had been fairly strenuous, he said, and members were entitled to a little recreation and rest. He extended the best wishes of the Opposition to the Speaker and staff of the Legislature. Mr Barnard returned thanks for the references made to his work. He said the spirit of goodwill and personal friendship among political opponents was a feature of British public life.

The Prime Minister then moved the adjournment and after the mock division members sang the National Anthem and the House adjourned.