A PRIVATE SESSION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 29 November 1927, Page 7

A PRIVATE SESSION

FOREIGN TOPICS & POLICY MR AMERY ADDRESSES M’s.P. PRESSMEN EXCLUDED, r Wellington, Nov. 28. In the House of Representatives this aiteruoou the Prime Minister intimated that he would like to have the opinion of members as to whether they were prepared to go into se cret or private session for the purpose of hearing an address from Mr Amery on foreign topics und policy. Ike differeneo between secret aud private session might be highly technical, but there was a difference. The idea of such a session was that many members had expressed a desire to near an address from Mr Amery on foreign topics and policy. Mr Amery had delivered a similar address to '.he Commonwealth Parliament aud the members gladly availed themselves of the opportunity to hear him. ft was not possible to make auy other arrangement, as Mr Armery had engagements which would keep him busy i'or the remainder of his slay in Welliugtou, and he was leaving for the south to-morrow, If members would like to hoar Air Amery for, say, an hour and a-balf. with questions for another half hour, that could bp done, but they must dispense with debate. Further, whichever course the House chose tp adopt, the proceedings would be equally private aud confidential. The Leader of the Opposition asked if strangers would lie exludcd, 1 The Primo Minitor replied in the affirmative. Mr Holland then asked if the press would be excluded. The Prime Minister replied that he had left that in the hands of the Speaker. In reply to a question from Mr Holland as to whether only members of the Press gallery would be admit; ted ami whether a representative of the “New Zealand Worker” could not be present, the Prime Minister inmated that only members of the Press gallery would be present. Mr Holland: Then we won’t agree to that. The Prime Minister said he thought u private sitting would be sufficient for their purpose the proceedings of which would bo equally private and confidential. The Speaker then ordered all strangers to withdrew, whereupon the members of tho Press' gallery quitted the Chamber. It is understood a private session was agreed upon, which lasted until 5.30 p.m.