FIRST SESSION OF PARLIAMENT HAS ENDED

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 December 1950, Page 6

FIRST SESSION OF PARLIAMENT HAS ENDED

101 Public Bills Were Passed

PARLIAMENT BLDGS. Last Night (PA).-With the traditional mock division on the question “that this House do now adjourn,” the first session of the 29th. Parliament was brought to an end this afternoon by a somewhat mystifying vote of 45 “ayes” to 36 “noes.” The mystery v.’as explained when the Junior Government Whip, Mr. Gerard, rose ’o a point of order and to Mr. Speaker alleged that Ihe member for Patea, Mr. Sheat, had voted twice. After making another inspection of Ihe voting lists, Mr. Speaker declared that Mr. Sheat would have to be penalised and he suggested that the Whips of both parties consult and decide on an appropriate penalty. There was some further by-play during this incident when Mr Gerard, exercising the right of Parliamen-

taria’ns to cover their heads, stood with a newspaper held above him to point out the voting discrepancy. When the session had been declared at an end all the members stood and : sang the National Anthem. i The House rose at 5.2 p.m. Members sat for 584 hours two I minutes during the session, which was the eighth highest total recorded i since 1906. Public Bills receiving the ■Royal Asse'nt totalled 101, and live 'lapsed or were otherwise cisposed of. , Thirteen local Bills also received the I Royal Assent and two lapsed. | A. total of 44 European and 1 1 I Maori petitions were presented din - ing the session. i There were 30 divisions in the whole House and 55 divisions re- ! corded in committee. • The number of days of meeting totalled 92 and Ihp daily average was for six hours and 21 mi'nu’es. Questions placed on the Order Paper numbered 537. and papers laid upon the table by command totalled 33, by Act 204. by leave 37. and in a return Io orders two. Papers ordered ;to be printed totalled 122.