PARLIAMENT AT WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1940, Page 4

PARLIAMENT AT WORK

URGENCY TAKEN ON SMALL FARMS BILL SHOPS AND OFFICES MEASURE TO BE DROPPED. ADVERSE REPORT MADE BY COMMITTEE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Parliamentary session was resumed by the House of Representatives yesterday, when second reading discussion was continued on the Small Farms Amendment Bill, which provides for the compulsory acquisition of land. The debate on the Bill had been adjourned when the House was previously in session about six weeks ago. Urgency was taken for the Bill, not with a view to passing it at the one sitting, but to enable the debate to continue to midnight. The proposal to take urgency was challenged by the Opposition, but this course was agreed to by 43 votes to 21. A recommendation that the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, which empowers the Court of Arbitration to fix the opening and closing hours of shops, be not proceeded with in view of the divergence of opinion on it, was made by the Labour Bills Committee, to which the legislation had been referred. Three new Bills were introduced, but all were of a minor nature. They confirm and validate regulations made under the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Act, abolish the Mokau Harbour Board and transfer its functions to the Waitomo County Council, and deal with the carriage of goods by sea. Mr. Holland (Christchurch North), who had been selected as leader of the National Party in Parliament at a caucus of the party earlier in the clay, took his seat in the House for the first time in his new capacity. The new member for Waipawa, Mr. Harker, was sworn in by the Speaker, Mr. Barnard, his sponsors being Mr. Kyle (Riccarton) and Mr. Broadfoot (Waitomo). Mr Harker also made his maiden speech, which was a criticism of the Small Farms Amendment Bill.