PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 September 1919, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

ADDRESS’-IN-..I{}IPLY. COLLAPSE I\'ARRO\VILY AVERTED. WELLINGTON, Sept. 5. There was a chance that the Address-in-Reply debate would collapse early today. The Leader of the Opposition had announced his intention of following the mover and seconder. When the order of the day was called on in the afternoon, the Hon. MacDonald intimated that the Leader, owing to indisposition, would be unable to speak. 'l‘hc,Pl-ime Minister said if no other members. were ready to proceed with the Address-in-RelJ‘ly he would ask the House to meet the convenience of the Leader of the Opposition, to adjourn the debate un‘i"l'i“”7.3O p_m.. Ordinary business was taken in the Inc-antiine,, and when this was concluded, shortly before five o’eloek, the Premier stated lthut the Louder of the Opposition had intimated that it would be impossible for him to,be present in the even. ing. Mr Massey expressed 9. desire that the debate sliould be concluded as quickly as possible, as h.e-_r:£:‘l'F§h{; timg could be spent. to better ad‘vantage in dealing with legislation than with matters usually discussed on the Ad-dress-in-Beply. v The Hon. MacDonald intimated, -on’ behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, that the Oppositl’6n"did.- not. wish to dis. cuss the Address-in-Reply more than was convenient to the Prirne Minister. ‘ Mr Me.C‘.ofi‘lbs (said. the st.~a:emen-3

made ear fr in the afternoon had led members to believe the debate would not be resumed before the evning, and therefore they were not prepared to: go not be resumed before the evening, and fhorofol‘e they were not prepared to go on_ ' Mr.l-lollaxrd (Grey; also protested. Mr Massey: I a.dvi.<c the hon. member for Grey to go on. Mr Poole (Auckland West): Go on. You don’t want limelight. Mr Fraser (\Vellington Central): It.’s only the professional limelight. The Prime Minister did not show any signs of giving way. Mr McCombs: I move the adjournment of the House. - ‘ Mr Fraser: I second that. (Laughter). The Speaker, after considering the position, said" adjournment of the House could only be moved by the Minister in charge of the House: except on Wednesday. ‘ ' Mr Wilford (Eutt) raised a point of order. If a member moved the adjournment of a debate and failed -to carry it, did he not lose his right to speak on the debate? ' . The Speaker said that both mover and seeonder did so. (Laughton) Adjournment of the debate could only be moved after the order of the day had been called on_ Mr Wilford. The hon. member for Lyttelton, I take it, never moved anything. (Laughten) Mr Holland commenced his speech with a vigorous :assertion that the Liberals were united with Reform in trying to stop the debate, because they did not wish an exposure of their own misdeeds as members of the National Government.