SESSION OPENS TO-DAY

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1364, 15 February 1912, Page 5

SESSION OPENS TO-DAY

MORE RUMOURS,

MOHAWK DIVISION LIST,

The political air is full of rumours,_nf •**..icli tin- principal subject is Ihe crucial division which will ilccido Iho fate of the Ward Government Among the supporters of the (jovernment are some who have not given up all hope, but (ho most they venture to look for as the result, of (ho dosperalu ell'orts Hint are being made is «, victory on the casting volo of the Speaker. The more probable event, is llmi when tho House comes to divide on a want of confidonce motion moved by •Mr. Jlassey Iho division list will l>e very nearly as follows :-

Against the For the Government. , Government. Allen, .1. ]),. (IWU Anderson Jltnldo "'"■'■ 'J, 1 t, Carroll ollard, K. F. Clnrk Hradiiey Colvin '"<* . Oraigic linchaiian Davey Campbell J>iekiu Dickson i;i| Ivsa,!); roi . I)PS risher (!lov«r Ki-asor i|., nilu (■■itlino liaurenson «'•>;« M'Callum erdman Macdonald I wrics W'Kenzie. P. 1 " le Mackenzie, T. Hunter Millar I-'iiig Myers Iff Poland .Malcolm lieed Wander Kiissell Massey ' Seddon Newman, Dr. A. K. Sidcy Newman, K. Smith, K. W Nosworthy Thomson, .1. C. fkey Ward I earco Witty "hndes ltaupihiroa Scott. Xjrnt,, Smith, F. n. l'arala Stntlmm Hindmarsh nykos lihodes Thomson, G. jr. Conies \Vilson hitt; Young I'omare Uobertson V'oilch Payne Total-U. Totnl-36. Uncertain.— Atinore. H has been suggested that an attempt may be made, to elect a Speaker from among tho lieform parly, but it is certain that no member on that side of the House would accrpt nomination. Sir Arthur Giiiune.-s will be re-elected unopposed. It has also been rumoured that .Mr. veitch would pair with Mr. Wilford. Inquiry shows that (his rumour also is baseless. In all probability every member will be in town to-day. Mr. A. 11. Hindmarsh, the Labour member fer Wellington South, when .seen yesterday afternoon said he had not yet made up his mind how he would vote "on a i\6-confideiice motion.

It is pointed out by tome of the oldest politicians tlwt in the very unlikely event of Sir Joseph Ward defeating the no-confidence motion with tho nid of the Speaker's casting vote, and obtaining a prorogation until June, he could not hope, to retain office long alter the meeting of the House upon such a precarious tenure. It is, of course, possible that there will be more than one no-confidenoe motion during the session. The Commissioners, who will open Parliament to-day, will probably be Sir C. C. Bovron (Speaker of the Council), Sir fi. ll'Leau, the Hons. .7. M'Gowan, W. C. T. Carncross, T. Thompson, H. Kelly, and S. T. George.

His Excellency liord Islington will deliver the Governor's Speech to-morrow afternoon. The E.N.Z.A.' will fire a salute from the Pipitoo. Battery. The Wellington Collego Senior Cadets will supply the guard of honour.

The Upper House will have very little tr, do this session. There will be no election of Speaker, as Sir Charles Bowen's term docs not expire till Julv. 1015.

Mr. J). H. Olutlir.ie, member for Oroua, has boon appointed Junior Opposition AVhip. llr. Giithrie, who was first elected in 190S, is popular anion!; members and is regarded as an authority on the education srstem.

A meeting of the Government party was hold at Sir Joseph Ward's residence Inst evening, but no official report was Riven out. The meeting lasted n couple, of lionrs, but little or no business wn.s done, Most of the tiiye was s)>cnt in discussing tlie late elections, and Sir Joseph Ward did not take his followers into his confidence in regard to the course he intends to adopt.