THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2545, 20 August 1915, Page 7

THE HOUSE

The' House of Representatives met at j(7.30 'p.m. / f The Georgette Trust Estate Bill (Mr. iiVeitch) was read a second time, i The Hon. W. Fraser (Minister of [iPublic Works) gave notice to introduce ithe Tramways Amendment Bill, 1915. ! Dr. A. K. NEWMAN (Wellington . ;East) gave notice to ask the Government whether they would purchase land 'for workers' dwellings in the vicinity jof - Evans Bay. . ' 5 Mr. J. PAYNE (Grey Lynn) gave riiotice to introduce the Sanitation of .►Theatres Bill. , | The Hon. W. H. HERRIES (Minister Vlof Railways) gave notice of the GreyJjuouth Reserves Bill. ! Two' days' leave of absence was granted to Mr. W. T. Jennings. (Tauniaruriui). I The Births and Deaths Registration .. Bill was received from the Legislative Council and read a first '.time. • ( The Swamp Drainage Amendment Bill Jwas introduced by Governor's Message 'and read a, first time. THE NATIONAL CABINET ' STATEMENTS OF LEADERS . TRIBUTES TO COLLEAGUES i The Right Hon. W. F.. MASSEY (Prime Minister) made a statement concerning the formation .of the Na|tional Cabinet. Ho wished, he said, ;to tell the House officially that a National Cabinet had been formed to carry ;on the business of the country during :th© . war period. After a number of conferences between the leaders of the-.' two great parties in the House, the leaders had decided that it was in the interests of the country that party warfare should bo suspended, and that as far as was possible they should put an .end to party wrangling and party bicki 'enng, and join forces to assist in fighting the enemies of tho Empire. He [.wished to say that lie heartily appreciated the patriotism and generosity of $he members on both sides/ and that go wa6 perfectly well aware that sacrifices had been made by members. on jboth sides of the House. Ho was (thinking most of his lato colleague, [Mr. Rhodes, who had come forward hand tendered his resignation 'in order ito facilitate the formation of a' National Cabinet. He might refer also to Sir Francis Bell, who had accepted the ,position of Leader. of the Legislative ■Coiincil and Minister of Immigration jwithout salary. He felt certain that , [the country approved very strongly of twhat had been done. Ho would like, ' (however, to remind honourable members "ana tlio.people of th© country generally fthat what had happened did not in.di-

cate any change in -flic opinions of members of the Opposition who had joined the Ministry. What it did indicate was that the members of the Neiv Zealand Parliament were Imperialists first, and party politicians, afterwards. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that as a result of tho change the Government would be able to do some good for the country and for the Empire. Mr. Massev then read a list of th© names of Ministers,' with their Departments:

No {sacrifice of Principles. SIR JOSEPH WARD (Minister of Finance) said he would take tho opportunity of expressing ,a sincere hope that the National Government might De able to do good work for this country during a time of great national crisis. The Government had been brought into existence because of the abnormal conditions existing. Above all and' beyond all it was the Empire's affairs that had brought together the political interests of this country into a union during the currency of the war, with the object of showing a four-square solid front to the enemy, and to enable the people to do tho best they could in the conduct of the war. He wished also to say that he recognised that mea 011 both sides of the House had sunk their political ambitions, in order to make the formation of a National Cabinet possible. Everyone regretted that the late PostmasterGeneral had had to give up his office. That gentleman had always carried out his duties in a way that was worthy of him, and had always heen most courteous in his- relations with honourable members. He wished to thank members of tho party of which he (Sir Joseph Ward) was the head, and of, which he still continued to be the head, for tho assistance they had given him in the negotiations. He would always remember with prido the manner in which they had agreed to forego their political ambitions. For the Prime Minister and himself he wished to say that they had both had a difficult task. It stiould be understood that neither of the parties were making any sacrifice of their political principles. They were merely burying party controversies, for the timo being, in the hope that this would be' for the good of the country and tho men going out to fight for it. No Obstructive Griticism. Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) asked for the indulgence of the House to offer good wishes to the new Ministry. , An hon. member; Leader of the Opposition! Mr. Wilford: No, I'm not. Sir Joseph: Ward is Leader of the Opposition. The leave of the House was granted. Mr. Wilford said ho would . like to take the first opportunity to wish the National Cabinet well. It was a big thing in the history of tho country, and members' activities were to be diverted from the services of -party to the services of the State. There would he none of the party wranglings which marked the Parliaments of the Empiro in times of peace. The heart of • tho nation, just as the heart of'this country, was in its work. Every man had an objectj and one object only, to do what ho.could, whether it entailed sacrifice or otherwise, to uphold the prestige of the greatest Empire the world had ever known. He felt perfectly certain that the National Ministry, with their combined,ability, long experience, and a desire only for. one thing, would Kflkp before'them the knowledge , that members not in the_ Cabinet would not j be banned from criticism with the idea !of _ improving—but they would distinguish betwen criticism and prejudiced obstruction. He was sure that there would be no prejudiced obstruction in the future. _ Such criticism as there was would be directed to improving, and lie was certain, the National Ministry would, welcome that criticism. He hoped thattile result of the National Cabinet .wrotld be in action,''-md not in words,, and ho. felt suro that the whole of the resources of the country would bo placed at their disposal; they would be guided by only one-principle, to do what was best for the Empire, and therefore what was ■ best for ourselves. Mr.. Masey thanked the member for the goodwill expressed, and further thanked the many members tho had seen him personally during the past few days. Further, ..he referred tc ihe fact that there were many members who had been long in the House, and audit have looked forward to attaining Ministerial honours.. Tliey had Accepted the new order of things uncomplainingly.

A Duty, Not a Sacrifice. Mr. R. H. RHODES (Ellesmere) thanked the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance for the kind expressions of appreciation they had made •on the action he took in resigning office. Once ho ■ was convinced of the need for a National Cabinet he did not hesitate to place his resignation in the Prime Minister's hands. He was n<it alone in that, as his late colleagues; 'did the same, but it fell to his lot to have his resignation accepted.' He did it cheerfully,' and looked upon it as- a. duty. It had been referred to as a, sacrifice, hut it -was a simple thing to give up a, position in the Cabinet in this country when they thought of the sacrifices made iu the' trenches for us. (ApI'plause.) Those people were making sacrifices, and so were tho mothers and wives who 'had given sons »and husbands to . fight for us. "Those people," concluded Mr. Rhodes, "are making sacrifices, not we, in giving up positions in the Cabinet. I did it merely as a duty. I join in wishing success to the National Cabinet. I see' no reason why it should not carry on to the advantage of this country. It is necessary that, we should present a solid front to the enemy, and we are not going to do it if we are not united." (Applause.) LOCAL BILLS. . The Whakatane • Harbour Amendment and Empowering Bill (the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald) and the Tauranga Borough Council and Tauranga Harbour Board Empowering Bill (the Hon. W. H. Herries) were put through Committee, read, a third' time, and passed. Prior to moving the adjournment the Prime Minister said that the following day the 'House would deal with tho Expeditionary Forces Bill, just referred back to the House by the Secret Defence Comhiittee, and next week the Budget would be brought down. Tho House rose at 8.45 p.m.