THE CLOSING SCENES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 59, 5 November 1914, Page 6

THE CLOSING SCENES.

Wellington, November 5

On the Council resifming at II o’clock valedictory speeches were, delivered, high tributes being paid to the Speaker, the chairman of committees, and Hon. Bell, leader of the Council. The House resumed at 10.50.

The Speaker announced that ‘-he had presented the Appropriation Bill to the Governor for the Royal Assent, which His Excellency had been pleased to give in the name of His Majesty. .The Bill provides for the following appropriations :—Consolidated fund £8,080,225, public works fund £3,492,194, other accounts £1,436,197. The Premier read a report from the Labour department, which he contended established the fact that there was Ho victimisatioil by 7 the Huntly Coal Co., Mr Robertson contending that the report proved the opposite. The Premier then delivered a valedictory speech, in which he congratulated the Speaker and chairman of committees upon the, manner in which they had discharged their duties. He said that though the session was often stormy 7 it had made history. He spoke in kindly terms of the Opposition. They AA’ere entering upon a political war, not a personal contest. > There Avould probably be losses on both sides. He hoped those who were victorious would take their success without undue elation and that those defeated would accept defeat with the proper equinamity.

ir Joseph Ward spoke in felicitous terms on the work of the session and bis felloAA’-inembers.

The Speaker and Mr Malcolm returned thanks for the felicitations of the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition. The Premier announced that the amount paid into the Defence fund, exclusive of funds in the hands of local committees and gifts in kind Avas £130,000, which he thought highly gratifying. The. Premier moved that the House at rising adjourn 'till Tuesday next. On the motion that the House adjourn a division was taken, the motion being lost hv 2•> to 17.

The House adjourned at 11.39, and the third session of the eighteenth Parliament come to an end.