UNPRECEDENTED PARLIAMENT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31093, 23 June 1966, Page 13

UNPRECEDENTED PARLIAMENT

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) SALISBURY, June 22. A new session of the Rhodesian Parliament opens in Salisbury today in circumstances which are believed to be without precedent in the British Commonwealth.

The last session continued for three sittings after the Smith Government seized independence unilaterally more than seven months ago. * Tomorrow’s opening- will spotlight many of the anomalies of the situation which has developed in Rhodesia since independence was declared. The “Speech from the Throne” will be read by the former Deputy Premier, Mr Clifford Dupont, whom Mr Smith named to the post of Officer Administering the Government —a position which assumes the responsibilities of the colony’s Governor under the post-independence constitution.

One of the major items of the new session will be the presentation of the Budget on July 21, when it is believed certain that taxes will go up to fill the gap in revenue caused by economic sanctions

imposed against the colony. In the eyes of the British Government, the sitting could be regarded as an illegal gathering for the following reasons: Five Reasons (1) The British Government does not recognise the postU.D.I. (Unilateral Declaration of Independence) constitution. (2) The session has been summoned by Mr Dupont—who holds a post which does

not exist in the 1961 preU.D.I. constitution. (3) The Governor will not perform the traditional openling. ' (4) The Prime Minister and I Ministers who will take the traditional oath to the Queen were suspended from office at the time of U.D.I. (5) The judges will be absent at their own request because of impending litigation which could challenge the standing of the Government