OPENING SESSION OF PARLIAMENT

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24912, 27 June 1946, Page 4

OPENING SESSION OF PARLIAMENT

NEW MEMBERS SWORN IN (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, June '26. The opening meeting of the House of Representatives to-day was longer .Jthan normal because Ministers took the unusual course of giving notice of appointment of standing committees. This is usually left until a few days after the opening. Two members of the House who were absent all last session were in their places to-day. They were the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) and Mr J. Hodgens (Government, Palmerston North). Another member who was absent for the latter half of last session, Mr P. Neilson (Government, Dunedin Central) was also present to-day. Mr H. Johnstone (Opposition), the new member for Raglan, was sworn in, and took the vacant seat on the bench with Mr G. F. Sim (Opposition, Rotorua). The bench which the late Mr R. Coulter (the former member for Raglan) used to occupy alone was left empty to-day. Notice of intention to move for the appointment of the Labour Bills and Goldfields and Mines Committees was given on behalf of Mr Webb by, the Minister of Transport (the Hon. J. O’Brien), but Mr Webb’s name and not that of Mr O’Brien is included in the nominated personnel. Only one notice of question was given to-day. That was by Mr F. Langstone (Government, Waimarino), who asked the Minister of Finance if he would introduce legislation making it mandatory for the Commissioner of Taxes to present an annual return to Parliament showing the income of each individual income taxpayer, the source or sources of income, and the amount of income tax paid. In a note Mr Langstone said the Gazette and a railway statement showed the remuneration of those employed in the Public Service and the Railway Department. Before the House adjourned, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) said an Imprest Supply Bill would be taken to-morrow. ) The Legislative Council also held a short meeting after the formal opening by the Governor-General, and tqefour new members, Mrs M. M. Dreaver, Miss J. Anderson, Mr W. Lee Martin, and Mr J. Robertson, were sworn in.