PARLIAMENT OPENED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 172, 10 April 1918, Page 6

PARLIAMENT OPENED

A WAR SESSION GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH PRESSING BUSINESS ONLY The fourth session of tho nineteenth Parliament of New Zealand was opened yesterday afternoon by the GovernorGeneral (Lord Liverpool). A guard of honour from the 1 hirty-sixth Reinforcements, the senior draft now in camp, was stationed outside the Parliamentary Buildings, and seme hundreds of people assembled in the grounds in spite of the threatening weather. Tho Trentham Camp Band played tho National Anthem as the Vice-Regal party entered tho Legislative Council Chamber. Lord Liverpool was accompanied by Lady Liverpool, Major-General Sir Alfred Robin, Commandant of the Forces, General Henderson, Director-General of Medical Services, Captain Hall-Thompson, Naval Adviser, and other officers. Tho proceedings in the Council Chamber took the usual form. The members of the House of Representatives were summoned by the Black Rod, and Lord Liverpool then read his Speech, which was one of the shortest on record. GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH The text of the Governor-General's Speech was as follows: — Honourable Gentlemen of tbe Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — The Imperial Government having informed the several Governments of the overseas Dominions and Dependencies of His Majesty's desire • that an Lmperial Conference and a. meeting of the Imperial War Cabinet should be held in London during the present year, my Ministers have advised me to convene the present session of Parliament. You will be invited to consider the proposal that ray Prime Minis- . ter and Minister of Finance should represent New Zealand at the Imperial Conference and War Cabinet and to make provision for the finan- ■ cial requirements of the Dominion during their absence. During the present session tho legislation to be proposed by my Ministers will be limited to the financial exigencies of the Dominion and such other , matters as demand immediate attention consequent on war conditions.

A second session of Parliament will be convened later in the year, for the transaction of general business, and for the consideration of such legislation as may then be considered necessary in the public interest. The present moment probably marks the crisis of the war in which the Empire has no long been engaged. The British Empire, with our Allies, is defending civilisation and tho liberties of the world against the tremendous efforts of an enemy whose victory would mean the triumph of unscrupulous tyranny. Our own brave soldiers s'ta.nd with the men of the Mother Country and other portions of the Empire* in the line which faces the enemy on the Western front, as well as on other battlefields. Wβ are well assured that 'the courage and endurance of our armies, now tried to the uttermost, will not fail in the present or the future. Wβ have tho record of the past three years to justify that confidence. ' I do not doubt that both branches of the Legislat'ire, speaking and acting for the whole people of the Dominion, will join with my Government in their determination that still further effort on our part is necessary to ensure that New Zealand shall continue to assist, to the utmost limit of our resources of men and material, the Mother Country in the righteous war in which she is engaged.

I pray that Divino Providence may guide your deliberations. After readinn; his Speech, Lord Liverpool left the Chamber. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Legislative Council met at 2.50 p.m., the. (ihair being taken by the Acting-Speaker, the Hon. W. F. C. Carncross. VACANT SEATS. A Message was read from the (• ov-ernor-Ceneral reporting that the seats of the Hons. Sir Charles Bowen, A. T. Maginnity, and W. Morgan had become vacant through the deatli of these Councillors. The seat of the Hon. B. Harris had become vacant through effluxion of time, and Mr. Harris had bean reappointed. The Hon. B. Harris was sworn in and took his seat. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The Hon. C. A. C. HARDY gave notice to move the Address-in-Reply on next sitting day. THE ACTING-SPEAKER. Tho Hon. SIR FRANCIS BELL gave notice of his intention to move that the Hon. W. F. C. Carncross should be Acting-Speaker, in the absence of the Speaker, and that the Hon. 0. Samuel should be ActingChairman of Committees. The Council adjourned at 3 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-day. THE HOUSE PRELIMINARY MATTERS. The Houso of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m., and adjourned immediately afterwards in response to the summons of the Governor-General to attend in the Legislative Council Chamber. The House resumed for the transaction of business at 2.47 p.m. Mr. SPEAKER read a letter from Major-General Sir Alfred Robin, Com- | mandant of the Forces, conveying tho information that Patrick Charles Webb had been convicted by court-martial of disobedience of the order, of a superior officer in Trentham Camp, and had been sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for two years Tho oath was administered to the two new members—Mr. J. P. Luke' (Wellington North) and Mr. Uru (Southern Maori). Mr. C. A. WILKINSON (Egmont) gave notice to move that leave of absence for the remainder of the session bo granted to the Hon. R. 11. Rhodes (Ellesmero), now absont from the Dominion on urgent public business. Dr. A. K. NEWMAN (Wellington East) gave notice of the Temporary Employees Bill. Loave of absence for ton days was granted to Mr. W. Downie Stewart (Dunedin Central) on account of illness. Mr. J. V. BROWN (Napier) gave notice of the Naturalised Subjects' Franchise Bill and the Napier High School Empowering Bill. Mr. J. P- LUKE (Wellington North) gavo notice of his intention to movo the Addrcss-in-Reply. THEIR TASKS DONE. TRIBUTES TO MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIED. The Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Minister) moved: "That this House records its sense of the faithful

services rendered to this Dominion by tho late Mr. Charles Pnrata, member for Southern Maori, and respectfully tenders' to his widow and family sincere, sympathy with them in their bereavement." After a reference to his career, Mr. Massey spoke of Mr. Fiirata's genial and happy disposition, which had endeared him to every member of the Bouse. In these days of trial and great peril Mr. Parata had been intensely proud of tho patriotism of his people, and lie had lost no opportunities of telling fit young men of his own race, and Europeans also, that their place was with the Army at tho front. SIR JOSEPH WARD (Minister of Finance), after paying a tribute to the character'of the late Mr. Parata, said that it was remarkable that his death was caused by his efforts in a patriotic demonstration in Wellington. It was his sustained exertion in a Maori dance on that occasion which caused him to go home ill, and from that illness he never recovered. The Hon. Dr. POMABE (Western Maori) paid a most elegant tribute to the memory of his late friend, in words and phrases rich, with tho beautiful imagery of the legends of the Maori race. Other speakers who spoke to tiip motion were: Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier), Mr. G. Witty (Riccartoii), Dr. H. T. J. Thacker (Christchurch East), and Mr. R. Fletcher (Wellington Central). The motion was affirmed. S!R CHARLES BOWEN. The Rt. Hon. W. F. MASSEY moved n similar motion respecting tho death of Sir Charles Christopher Bowen, formerly Speaker of the Legislative Council, and an ex-Minister of the Crown. Mr. Massey sketched briefly the life of the deceased pcentlcnian from the early days of colonisation in these lands. Sir Charles Bowen, he said, had filled many public positions faithfully and well, but he would be most gratefully remombered as the author of the Education Act of 1877, which had stood tho test of time almost without amendment. He believed that the Act would stand for many generations to come. He had heard it said that Sir Charles Bowon would be remembered as one df the foremost statesmen of this country. The late gentleman's record was one that might well be a pattern for politicians of to-day.

SIR JOSEPH AVTRD (Minister of Finance), seconding the motion, said that the late Sir Charles Bowen was one of the few men in politics whom he had never seen ruffled on any occasion. Physically and mentally Sir Charles Bowon was a truly remarkable man. In the full vigour of his manhood lie had rare constructive ability, of which the Education Act was the best-marked monument. Sir Joseph Ward joined in sympathising with the late Sir Charles Bowen , s relatives who now mourned. The Hon. G. W.SUSSELL (Minister of Internal Affairs) said that Canterbury had been fortunate in the men who early took up the direction of its affairs, and foremost among them all was Sir Charles Bowen, a man of culture and refinement, and a man also of great force of character. In Canterbury he had been responsible for the handsome endowments set aside for higher education in the province. Sir Charles Bowen was one. of the. greatest men that this country had ever produced, and it was proper that ho (Mr. llussell), as a 'Canterbury (member, should pay a tribute to his memory. ' Mr. G. WITTY (Riccarton) upoko of the great love for trees and flowers always shown by Sir Charles Bowen, and his strong objection always to the destruction of such old trees as were landmarks reminiscent of Old Canterbury. Tho motion was carried. SIR HENRY MILLER. Tho PIUMI! MiiNlSTEll moved a similar motion respecting the late Sir Henry John Miller. He said that Sir Henry Miller had been a public man who had helped to shape tlie destiuies of New Zealand. Hu had been also a colonist oi die very best typo, one of the men whose loyalty had provided the basis of tho 'Dominion's response to the Empire's call in tho present war. Throughout his long life hs had lived according to the golden rule, and New Zealand, which had been the richer for his coming, was the poorer for his goiug.

SIR JOSEPH WARD said Sir Henry Miller had boon ono of the band of pioneers. He liad embodied the: high qualifications that went to the making of a good citizen and a good public man. The motion was carried. HON. A. T..MACINNITY. The "PRIME MINISTER moved a similar motion in respect of tho tate Hon. A. T. Maginnity. He said lhat Mr. Maginnity had made trends all over New Zealand, and his death was mourned very widely and sincerely. SIR JOSEPH WARD said that he had known Mr. Maginnity during a very long period of years, and had found him always a good friend and a capable public man.. The motion was supported hy Mr. T. A. H. Field (Nelson), mid carriod. HON, WILLIAM MORCAPJ. The Right Hon. W. 1 , . M_ASSEY moved alike resolution inspecting tho late Hon. William -Morgan, of Gishorne, ;\ member of the Legislative Cminci'.. The late Mr. Morgan, said Mr. Masspy. was ono of the best-known of the settlers in the Gisborue district, and was there very highly esteemed. Hip. denth would be a loss not (inly to tho 'Rust Coast, but also to the Parliament of New Zealand. SIR JOSEPH WARD seconded tho motion, and added to Mr. Mnssey's praises of thu late gentleman's good qualities. The motion was carried. DR. H. D. BEDFORD. The PIU'ME MINISTER moved also that the House should . record , its sense of the high service rendered to New Zealand by the late Dr H. D. Bedford. He said that Dr. Bedford had shown what could be done in this country by a combination of ability and industry. His term in Parliament had been short, but he had proved himself to nave knowledge and capacity far above tho.average. His record in the scholastic field had been a notable one. SIR JOSEPH WARD said th(vt the lato Dr. Bedford, in his young days, had made his way in life by persevcra/ici! ana application. He had entered Parliament ns a young man and had inrulo Ins impress there. Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dwnedin CWrnH and Mr. C. IT. Poole (Auckland West) supported the motion and it was carried. The Houso adjourned on the motion of the Prime Minister at 4.10 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-day.