PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1931, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

THE COUNCIL. (By Telegraph —Per i'ress Astociation > WELLINGTON, Sept. 23. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 yesterday. Defence Amendment Bill, National Provident Amendment Bid, Auckland and suburban Drainage Amendment. Bill, and .Rotorua Borough Reclamation Empowering Bill were put enough ail stages and passed. The Council adjourned at 4.5 p.m. until 2nd October. ‘ THE HOUSE. if REPETITION OF FRIDAY’S SCENE. There was a repetition of Friday’s scene when the 1 Prime Minister rose to make his important statement in the House of Representatives this evening, but on tnis occasion the period of keen anticipation was riot followed by an attack on the Government, as it was last week. The galleries were crowded, Her Excellency, occupying a seat m Mr Speaker's ladies’ galiery. PRIME MINISTER’S ADDRESS. The Prime Minister (Hon. G, Forbes; rose immediately, and read to Uie House a statement- informing tne House of the composition of tne Coalition Government as follows; — ii conformity with the statement 1 made to tne House last sitting day, X desire to take the first opportunity of informing honourable members that S' Coalition Government consisting or ten members representative of the Opposition and Government Parties m Parliament, has now been formed. The recent trend of events has' shown that the surest way to deal effectively with the many grave problems arising today, owing to the abnormal position of economic affairs throughout the world, is by the formation of a strong Government, backed up by a majoiitv in the House, in order to carry out necessary remedial measures in tne interests of the country. _ The information given to the Special Economic Committee which has been sitting during the last few weeks has also disclosed the necessity for immediate action being taken in regard to the finances of the Dominion. After conferences between the Leaders of' the two Parties it was, i am pleased to say, decided to form a Coalition Government containing equal representation of both sides, in order that a concentrated effort might be put forward to bring about stability, in our public finances. X should like here to pay a tribute to the public spirit d ■ fob of the Leader of the Opposition and his Party, as well as to that of my colleagues and the other members of the Government

Party. This is a time' when the nat- • jonal emergency calls for sacrifice and .'-denial on the part"of our citizens. , In this connection I desire to express - my keen appreciation of the action oi 1 those of my colleagues who are relinquishing their Ministerial positions in order to allow the Coalition Government to take office. No man could hav e wished for more loyal colleagues . than I have .had, in the Government o. the country and I am fully sensible J of the sacrifice which their sense o r public duty has involved. They have in a time of peculiar difficulty, discharged the duties of their resopnsible posts tvith zeal and ability, and they are en- j titled to our warm commendation in the patriotic course which , they have adopted. Their action has been most helpful at this very trying time and they have set an example not only to other members of the House but to the community generally. Speaking on behalf of the new Government who have now assumed office, I should like to bespeak for them, patience and forbearanec in the per.for mance of their difficult task. They wijl at all times welcome helpful and constructive criticism, but I do assure the House and the country that the Government will set out on their work, im. bued with the highest sense of the public welfare and with the definite aim of using their utmost endeavours to submit measures which will promote as speadily as possible the return, of prosperity to the Dominion. The times through which we arc passing call strongly for unity, co-operation W anjl courage on the part of our citizens and I fell confident that the determination and character of New Zealanders will eventually enable us to overcome successfully the difficulties which at present beset us. COALITION CABINET. • { The constitution of the new Government with the allocation of Ministerial offices and departments is as follows: — kf RIGHT HON. G. W. FORBES Prime Minister, Minister of Railways. Minister of External Affairs, and Minister-in-Charge of the Scientific and Industrial Research, Public Trust, Electoral, and High Commissioner’s Department. / : ; RIGHT HON. J. G. COATES.—Min-?-T ister of' Public Works. Minister of Transport, and Minister-in-Charge of the Unemployment, and Roads and Public Buildings. HON. E. A. RANSOM. —Minister of %■<■/ Lands, Commissioner of State Forests, and Minister-in-Charge of the Land for Settlements, Scenery Pre. servation, Discharged Soldiers, Settlement, and Valuation Departmeats, Y ,ye '

HON. W. D. STEWART—Minister of Finance, Minister of Customs, Minister of Stamp Duties, Attorney General, and Minister-in-Charge of the State Advances and Land and income Tax Departments. HON. SIR API RAN A NGATA.—Native Minister, Minister for the Cook islands, Ministei-in-Charge of the Native Trust, Government Life Insurance. State Fire Insurance, Legislative, Public Service, Superannuation, Friendly Societies, and National Provident Fund Departments. and Member of the Executive Council, representing the Native Race. HON. J. A. YOUNG.—Minister of Health, Minister of immigration and Minister-in-Clfarge of the Mental Hospitals, and Printing and Stationery Department. HON. R. MASTERS—Minister of Education and Minister of Industries and Commerce. HON. I). JONES.—Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Mines. HON. J, G. COB BE.—Minister of Defence, Minister of Justice. Minister of Marine, and Minister-in-' Charge of the Pensions, Police, Prisons and Inspection of Machinery Departments. HON.' A. HAMlLTON—Minister of Labour, Minister of Internal Affairs. Postmaster-General, and Minister of Telegraphs, and Min-ister-in-Charge of the Tourist and Health Resorts, Publicity, Registrar Generals, Statisticians. Audit, Museum, and Advertising Departments. HON. J. G. COATES. Hon, J. G. Coates said the House would recall that within recent weeks and particularly within recent days, it had become known to members of all parties that the country was facing difficulties. It had become apparent to Die Reform Party that if New Zealand was to be served and to be served quickly, all its members would have to make every endeavour to assist in the hour of need. Mr Martin : What about the other party. •Mr Coates : That is a matter for that party, and one of judgment. Mr Langstone ; I suppose you wish we were not here. ,

Continuing, Mr Coates said had time not been such an important consideration he believed it would have been better, from a political point of view if a general election could have been held at the present time, but it was a matter of ! extreme necessity that had actuated his Party in its decision to assist the Government to put through such measures as were necessary.

Mr Semple ; Disenfranchising the people. i Mr Coates continued: He had asked his party to stand by, and he knew it would. He had also asked its supporters throughout the country to stand by and he Would Wake a wider appeal to the citizens! of New Zealand as a whole ito realise that the Hew Government would be acting in the best interests of the Dominion, He assured the country that as far as the new Government was concerned it would endeavour by team work and co-operation to face the task that lay before it.

HOUSE ADJOURNS TO FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2nd

The Prime Minister moved the adjournment of the Rouse until Friday October 2nd at 10.30 a.m. The business before it on that date would be the passage of an Imprest Supply Bill. It was intended that the new Government should, in the meantime have the opportunity of considering and deciding upon measures necessary to submit to the House.

Mr H. E. Holland -reappearing in the role of Leader of the Opposition, asked Mr Forbes whether it was interded to postpone the election, and whether he hoped to have a full programme oflegislation ready by Friday of next week. Mr Forbes said the question of postponing -the election was a matter that would have to be decided bv the new Government, when it is considering what measures are necessary for the financial rehabilitation of the country. Every endeavour would be made to have legislation ready by the time the House resumed, but as the whole of the Friday :would be occupied by the Imprest Supply Bill, and as there would then be the usual adjournment till the following Tuesday, he proposed to present the full programme to the House on Tuesday. (He definitely stated it would be ready by then. The House rose at 7.40 p.m. till Friday October 2. ■