PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1365, 16 February 1912, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

THE SESSION OPENED,

SIR A. R. GUINNESS RE-ELECTED SPEAKER.

A FULL ATTENDANCE

Tlio first session of the eighteenth Parliament of New Zealand, was opened by commission yesterday 'afternoon. Tlio proceedings- wero formal, tlio re-election of Sir A. R. Guinness to tlio position of Speaker of the House of Representatives being' completed without opposition.

Members of the Lower House assembled in their Chamber, all the members excepting Air. T. At. Wilt'ord (Mutt), who is absent in England, being present. It wns most unusual to see so lull an atteudance of members. The members of the House were immediately summoned to the Legislative Council, where all the. members of tlio Upper Koiiso were assemlileil. Lady Ward, Miss Ward, and Mrs. R. Jl'Kenzie were the only Indies present on the floor of the ChumbcT. A. number of other ladies, wives uf members, were admitted to the I'ress Gallery, l'arliament was opened by a commission,; consisting of Sir Charles Bowen (Speaker of the .Legislative Council), Hon. J. Al'Guwaii,- Hon. W. D. H. Baillie, Sir George Al'Lean, Hon. T. Kelly, lion. J. li. .lenkiiison, aud Hon. C. H. Mills.

The ceremony wu3 brief and uninteresting. 'it concluded with a promise that to-day the Governor, ' for whoso absence apology .was made in the usual quaint terms, would declare the. reason lor calling i'lirliament together, and members of the tlouse of Representatives were then directed to return to the House, and oiect a Speaker.

Members ot the Lower House returned to their own Chamber at -'.10 p.m. .Thp galleries, including that allotted to members of the Legislative Council, were hill, Kiid about fifty persons, mostly wives of members, wero accommodated with seats on the floor of the House. The Clerk of tutTlLbusoMMr; M. Otterson) read ii commission from the Governor authorising ' U'i'iu to swear in members, and at once proceeded to perform that duty, members being called to the table in batches of fflur. ■ Mr. Masses* on his way to the table, went over to the front Government bench and shook hands wffh the Prime •Minister, who was sitting there waiting his turn. : ,'l'ho swearing-in occupied twenty-two minutes. ; THE SPEAKERSHIP. SiU ARTHUR GU-NiNJJSS UNOPPOSED. '' ine nsxt ueni 01 business was me citctiou ol u- bi-vajicr. im CierJC, an his isipaeuy as tuimnibsiouer, coiiunueil lucantimu io pissum. ->s uirecicu uy uiu bunding oruvxs, ho pointed lo tho mo\er jiiu icwjiiuei' oi [lia lcsoiutiou, which was now put to the .house, instead ot aunouueJiig inuui by liuiuo a= is uone uy Mr. cyw.iker. '.Mr. J. A. HAXAN (luvercargill) rose ai soon as tno sireariog-iu oi members nad concluded, ami propoted tnuc Uie. member tor Urey should take tne Chair ot the House as bpcalier. Sir Artiiur Guinness, he rcmarKtd, find been a member since July, 1881, a period of nearly a> years. Jic had been L'liairuuin of Committees lor ten years, and had filled the oltice or Speaker in the last three Parliaments, itir. llanaii referred at length and in eulogistic terms lo the manner in wliich.bir Arthur Guinness had discharged his duties in (he past, inbtancuigiiLs ripened and sound judgment i(i p all matters o[ Parliamentary practice, his strict impartiality and his unfailing courtesy, Members would agree with him that in the capable hands of Sir Arthur Guinness the honourable trnditious of tho Il,ous!).iUid.it.s constitutional rights and privileges would bo well.maintained. (Ap--I'lniisc'niul "Hear, hear.") (Auckland East), in Mcopdihg the motion, oxpressed rsgrut that h more experienced I'arliauientarian had not been selected to fulfil his task. Nevertheless, as a mepibcr of two years' standing, he could testify to the unfailing courtesy which Sir.Arthur Guinness always extended to new members. He associated himself fully, with the sentiments expressed by the hoti; member for Inveroargill. (Applause.) .. .. THE SPEAKER. INSTALLED, Sir- Arthur'.(rlM-N-JCE'SS, iu a speech apoccasion,' conveyed .his sincere.thanks.to his brother members..fnr the high honour they proposed to confer upon him —th,e highest honour, in the. gift of the, House.. If te-electetl,'-ho would eiidcDvour to preserve and. nbhold the'dignity of tho House, to.disregard all claims of friendship,' whether personal or. political, and.to extend due courtesy to niem-Ik'l-s. fie knew.that tho .House did not rxpect itd Spcnker. to .be-infallible, but would be satisfied if he.showed.nn honest tlesire lo perform •' the- duties of his tiffico, impartially, zealously,' and faithfully. Concluding, Sir Arthur Guinness submitted himself to the judgment of members.

There being no other nominations, thn Speaker-elect was now conducted to the chair by his proposer and seconder, and duly installed. He expressed his thanks in a brief speech, and concluded by expressing a hope that young members would not be slow in invoking any assistance he might be able to confer. (Applause.)

SIR JOSEPH WARD ON SMILES. ••The PRIME" MINISTER (Sir Joseph .AVard) congratulated the House uoon its o.lioice of a Speaker. Sir Arthur Gnfnne>s's. connection with public lifo dated bock over a, period of 11 years, from the timo nf his election to the Westland Provincial Council. It was a fact that, during his three terms as Speaker, he had always been impartial, and had inspired ■universal confidence in members of all partie;. ■ Perhaps, under other circumstances, there might have been a contest for the office of Speaker on this occasiou, and it was on that account all the more gratifying to note, that day, tho supremo cordiality with which his friends opposite, and members on his own side of the House, agreed in takiii" a good man from the ranks of the Government party, to fill this important position.

"I am glad to see that that draws a nmile. from the Leader of the Opposition," continued Sir Joseph Ward. (Laughter.) "He. has not been smiling lately—(renewed laughter)—unlike myself. I have been in the happy position of viewing thiu»s from a distance." Concluding, the Prime Minister heartily congratulated Sir Arthur Guinness upon his flection.

THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. ./Mr. MASSEY also congratulated the speaker. Jn.ono of bis recent speeches, he went: on to remark, Sir Arthur GuinTi(?ss" hnfl outlined liis idea of making this j-ov.-Zealand Parliament n model Parliament. Jhe idnu was one which appealed very strongly to him' (Mr. Aia.ssey), and in iidvancmg it Sir Arthur (iuiuuess would liftvo not only his support, but, ho was iiontident, that of every member in the House, "Sir," Mr. Mussey continued, "I nopo that your position during tlie next tureo yoars-or perhaps I should say cfur111T the term of (lie present. Parlmilienl— will be a particularly pleasant one " Mr. I. M. Isitt fflhi'islchiirch North) also congratulated flic Speaker. Sir. Arthur (.iiiiiitn.'ss briefly returned thanks for the felicitations extended to him. No further business was transacted At .".20 p.m.. Hie House'having sat barelv ar hour, the Prime Minister moved that (t adjourn until 2.30 p.m. 10-day.