NEARING AN END

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1939, Page 9

NEARING AN END

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SITS LATE THE TASMAN AIR SERVICE. FLYING-BOATS MAY BE KEPT BY BRITAIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The House of Representatives rapidly put the Finance Bill No 2 and the Visiting Forces Bill through their remaining stages after 2 a.m. this morning and rose at 2.10 a.m. until 2.30 p.m. today. During the Committee stages of discussion on the Finance Bill, the Minister for Finance, Mr Nash, in reply to a question regarding the commencement of the trans-Tasman air service, said the war had altered the situation and if the Imperial Government wanted the two undelivered machines the New Zealand Government would agree willingly to hand them over. As the machines would provide valuable contact with Australia they would be secured if possible, but there was no likelihood of a passenger service commencing. Mr J. G. Coates suggested that the Government should endeavour to get the machines as they would be valuable for reporting the way clear if troopships were leaving New Zealand. Altogether four Bills were passed during the day, leaving only three to be dealt with for the session to finish. These include the Reserve Bank Amendment Bill, which is yet to be introduced. The other two are the Marketing Amendment Bill and the Fair Rents Bill, both of which appear to be likely to be discussed freely. ADJOURNMENT ONLY PARLIAMENT NOT TO BE PROROGUED. DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL COURSE. WELLINGTON, This Day. Because of the war it can now be taken for granted that when the present legislative programme is completed, probably by the end of this week, Parliament will not follow the normal course and be prorogued, but will be merely adjourned. This course will be taken so that if necessary the Legislature may be called together at any time and be able to settle down to work straight away, avoiding the necessity for an officialy opening and a long Address-in-Reply debate.

In normal circumstances Parliament would not meet again till the end of June, but there seems every likelihood now that a much earlier meeting will be necessary. Even if an emergency sitting is not called, if seems very likely that the House will meet relatively early in the New Year, possibly in February, but in any case the procedure to be followed will enable members to be summoned and to undertake immediately consideration of any projected legislation.