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Southland Times, Issue 25548, 16 December 1944, Page 4

END OF SESSION

PARLIAMENT TO MEET IN MAY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 15. An announcement that unless the war situation required an earlier meeting Parliament will not be called together before early in May was made by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, when the House of Representatives met this afternoon for the last time in 1944. Mr Fraser said he had discussed the matter with members on both sides of the House, including the Leader of the Opposition and the consensus of opinion was that this would probably be the best time for the resumption, unless there were any serious war developments earlier requiring the attention of the House. Moving the adjournment of the House, Mr Fraser thanked the Speaker for the way he had presided over the sittings of the House during the year. After referring to the staff of the House and others connected with Parliament, Mr Fraser wished all the season’s greetings and said that he would ask the Speaker to send a Christmas message to the forces overseas expressing the hope of an early victory and the determination of all in New Zealand to support them until victory was secured. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, also thanked the officers of the House and the staff.

The House adjourned at 3.46 p.m. after members had sung the National Anthem.