NEW FEDERAL HOUSE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 111, 23 February 1950, Page 5

NEW FEDERAL HOUSE

OPENING SESSION MR McKELL’S SPEECH \ > (N.Z.P.A.—Copyright) CANBERRA, Feb. 22. The House of Representatives packed for the opening of the nineteenth _ Federal Parliament to-day. Twenty-four new senators were sworn in by the Chief Justice of the High Court (Sir 'John Latham). In the House of Representatives all the Cabinet Ministers except the Post-master-General (Mr H. L. Anthony) wore morning dress. All the Labour members wore lounge suits. Mr A. G. Cameron (Liberal) showed traditional reluctance to accept the post of Speaker. In his opening speech the Governon General (Mr W. J. McKell) said the Government intended taking strong measures to protect the community against the activities of subversive organisations and individuals, in particular 1 the Communist Party. A bill would be introduced early in the session to deal with this matter. Other undertakings mentioned in Mr McKell’s speech were:— (1) To improve the purchasing power of money. (2) To bring The cost of modern, improved medical, surgical, obstetrical, and hospital treatment within the means of the general public. (3) To provide specific life-saving and disease-preventing drugs free on the presentation of a doctor’s certificate. (4) To prepare development plans requiring capital expenditure on a scale very much greater than in the past. (5) To revie-\v the arbitration system in order to restore to union members an opportunity to express democratically their views in the election of officers and in threatened or actual disputes.

Projected Royal Visit

Mr McKell referred to the inability of the Royal Family to visit Australia in 1949 and expressed the hope that Their Majesties would make the trip in 1952.

Foreign affairs would be the subject of an early statement by the Minister of External Affairs (Mr P. C. Spender), said Mr McKell. It was proposed to establish a Parliamentary standing committee to give opportunities for a full study of foreign affairs and to serve as a source of information to Parliament.

The Government’s policies for defence, immigration, and development were designed to contribute in the most effective manner to the achievement of a strategic distribution of the manpower and material resources of the British Commonwealth, and the intensive development of Australia as a vital area in the Pacific.

Actiye steps were being taken to improve (he Navy’s .efficiency. While, the ArmV would be kept at full strength voluntary enlistment, the Government was making preliminary preparations for the introduction of a sensible system of universal training, designed to meet Australia’s military requirements with the minimum interference with civil production. Industrial potential would be developed and basic materials supplies increased. A full-scale immigration ’ scheme would be continued, care being taken to avoid the creation of racial groups within Australia. , Mr McKell added fnat the Govern ment proposed a bill to alter the Constitution and ensure that in future no measures giving Governments mono polistie rights to engage in commerce or industry could become law without a rpferendum.