MANY NEW FACES IN PARLIAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 36, 12 February 1944, Page 4

MANY NEW FACES IN PARLIAMENT

FIRST SESSION THIS MONTH STRENGTHENED OPPOSITION Parliament is to meet on Tuesday, February 22, for the first session since the general election in September. The duration of the session will probably be governed to a large extent by the length of the Address-in-Reply debate. The programme of business is likely to be restricted to matters requiring immediate attention. The main session will take place later in the year. With its ranks strengthened the Opposition will have a greatter influence in debate. The new Parliament will be formally opened by commission and this ceremonv will be followed immediately bv the swearing-in of members of the House of Representatives. The traditional opening by the GovernorGeneral, Sir Cyril Newall, with the Speech from the Throne, always takes place, in such circumstances, on the following day. 20 New Members. Twenty of the 80 members of the House will be making their first appearance in Parliament. The veterans of politics are now all on the Labour side of the House. With Sir Apirama Ngata and the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes both out of politics, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, becomes the “father” of Parliament. New Labour members are Messrs. R. Coulter (Raglan), F. Hackett (Grey Lynn), A. E. Armstrong (Napier), P. Connolly (Dunedin West), and T. Omaha (Eastern Maori). New National members include Messrs. F. Finlay (Hamilton). S. W. Smith (Bay of Islands), A. J. Murdoch (Marsden), T. C. Webb (Kaipara), H. T. Morton (Waitemata), R. M. Algie (Remuera), G. F. Sim (Rotorua), K. J. Holyoake (Pahiatua), G. H. Mackley (Masterton). E. P. Anderman (New Plymouth), E. B. Corbett (Egmont), W. A. Sheat (Patea), M. H. Oram (Manawatu), C. M. Bowden (Wellington West). W. H. Gillespie (Hurunui), J. T. Watts (Riccarton), and R. G. Gerard (Mid-Canterbury). With the recent return of the Prime Minister and his colleagues from their mission to Australia, where a New Zealand-Australian Pact was signed, a caucus was held last week in Wellington when the whole question of the personnel of the Cabinet, was discussed. The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, was unanimously re-elected leader of the party at the caucus held in October, following the general election, and at the recent caucus all the other Ministers were confirmed in office on a vote being taken. Empire Conference. Parliament is unlikely to meet again, after the February session, until it assembles for the main session, probably in June or July, unless some unforeseen development makes it necessary to meet sooner. The opinion is held in political circles that Mr. Nash will return to New Zealand for the main session in order to prepare and present the Budget. Support, is given to this by an announcement. when he left for Washington to resume his post there, that he would be away from the Dominion for several months. He is at present in London, obtaining first-hand information relative to the Dominion's finances. A conference of Empire Prime Ministers in London, later in the year, will be attended by Mr. Fraser. If this is held in the early months of the year it may have some influence on the length of the coming session. Reference to such a conference has been made in recent months in the House of Commons, but, so far, no date has been announced. ,