BRITISH SECRETARY WELCOMED IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 July 1950, Page 5

BRITISH SECRETARY WELCOMED IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Last Night (PA).—A rare Parliamentary occasion today was the introduction of the British Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, Mr. GordonWalker, to the House of Representatives. When the House met after a State luncheon had been held in the visitor's honour, Mr. Speaker announced that Mr. Gordon-Walker was “within the precincts of this House,’’ and that with the concurrence of members he proposed to invite him to take a seat on the floor of the House beside Mr. Speaker’s chair. Mr. Gordon-Walker was then escorted into the Chamber by the Prime Minister, Mr. Holland, who made the customary bow to the chair before officially presenting the visiting Minister. Mr. Gordon-Walker shook hands with Mr. Oram (the Speaker) as members of the House, who had risen to their feet, expressed their welcome in sustained applause. Mr. GordonWalker took the chair provided for him and helping himself to an unused order paper on the adjacent bench of Mr. Semple, who is absent through sickness, proceeded to follow proceedings with keen interest. It had been expected that the House would at once occupy itself with the customary Wednesday afternoon business of Ministerial replies to questions, but the introduction by Gover-nor-General’s message of the Tenancy Amendment Bill provided unexpectedly animated moments as members of the Opposition sought to draw from the Minister in Charge, Mr. Sullivan, information as to the Bill’s contents. Mr. Gordon-Walker remained in the House for some time before leaving to continue his official programme. Before attending the State luncheon he had been present at a full meeting of the Executive Council in Parliament Buildings and discussed various aspects of his work with the GovernorGeneral, Sir Bernard Freyberg, and the Ministers who were present. Mr. Gordon-Walker, during his address at the luncheon, voiced appreciation of the honour extended him of being invited to watch proceedings of the House from a privileged position beside Mr. Speaker.