PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19176, 6 December 1927, Page 12

PARLIAMENT.

APPROPRIATION BILL PASSED. VALEDICTORY SPEECHES.

[THE PRESS Special Service.]

WELLINGTON, December 5

The House of Representatives today passed the Appropriation Bill, the last act of the session. It was, as the Finance Minister explained, an unusually short Bill, merely carrying out the decisions of the House made in legislation during llio session.

Discussing the item "Unauthorised Expenditure £87,280," Mr I'raser asked what had been done to meet the extraordinary expenditure caused by the efforts of Hospital Boards to meet the demands made upon their funds by unemployment relief. The Minister for Health said that a validating clause had been passed in the Finance Act which would enable local bodies to arrange their finance for this purpose. So lar as he was aware the machinery provided was working satisfactorily in the various cities, inasmuch as he had no complaints in this connexion. The Government, of course, was finding half the money. The Legislative Council passed through all stages the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill and the Appropriation Bill. The usual expedition was then made to Government House by the Speakers of both Houses to obtain the signature of his Excellency to the Bills. Before the House rose the Prime Minister led in the exchange of compliments with which every session of the New Zealand Parliament ends. He complimented the Speaker (Sir Charles Statham) and the Chairman of Committees (Mr Hockly) and the Leaders of the other Parties, Mr H. E. Holland and Mr Forbes, upon the pleasant feeling which had prevailed during their debates. Their discussions had been keen and animated but. happily, free from personal bitterness and Party rancour.

In felicitous speeches Mr Holland, Mr Forbes, Sir Charles Statham, and Mr Hockly acknowledged the compliment and offered congratulations in their turn.

At 5.55 p.m. tho House divided, again following old custom, on the Prime Minister's motion that the House do now adjourn. The motion was (tarried by 34 votes to 25, and the singing of the National Anthem brought the second session of the twenty-second Parliament to a close.

There were similar valedictory speeches in the Legislative Council.