POLITICAL NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 26, 25 October 1918, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES

OPENING OF THE SESSION Yesterday's proceedings in Parliament wore brief. Alter tho Governor-General bad read his Speech, (he Legislative Council dealt with some formal business.' The House of Representatives sab for about threesuarlore of mi hour while members gave notice of questions and Bills. Defence matters took a promin- • ent place among the questions. The Bills included Mr. Sidey'e Daylight Saying Bill, which has appeared even session for years past. Both Chambers adoansed until iiiis afternoon, when they will (leal with motions relating to the deaths of members and ex-members during, tbe recess. The House will then adjourn until Tuesday afternoon. Tho Council probably will not require to sit again until next week. MEMBERS' SEATS. •Tho House of Representatives met yeslorday for tho first time in the new chamber. Tho nwe has brought about a few change.! in the grouping of members. The front benches on tho Speaker's right are occupied by the Minister of Railways (Mr. Merries), the Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen), the Minister of Finance (Sir Joseph Ward), and die Prime Minister (Mr. Massoy). The left front benches, which in ordinary times would bo occupied by the Leader of the Opposition and prominent supporters, navebeen taken by Mr. Hornsby (Wairarapa), Mr. Witty (Riccarton) Mr. Colvin (Bullor), and Mr. Poland (Ohinemuri). The Labour members form a group on the eft cross benches. The position of members generally has no particular signifieance under present conditions. THE NEW CHAMBER, Glooniy predictions regarding the poor acoustic properties of the new chamber were confirmed to some extent by the experience of tho opening day. Many members were heard only with great difficulty in the galleries. Some remarks wero inaudible. The Primo Minister interjected "Can't hear a word" when Mr. Sidey was speaking half the width of the Chamber away. The galleries were full, hut in epite of this fact there was an echo, which is likely to be more pronounced when thy galleries- are empty. The occupants of the Press gallery have the Speaker and Ministers right below them, and {hey are going to hnve much more trouble about hearing than was tho case in the old Chamber. > THE LABOUR MEMBERS. The new official Labour members, Mr. H. Holland (Grey). and Mr. P. Fvaser , (Wellington Central) took tho oaih of allegiance in the usual way. They were introduced by Messrs. A. H. Hindmarsh (Wellington South), A. Walker (Dunedin North), and J. M'Combs (Lyttelton). Mr. Holland took the oath on the Bible, and Mr. leaser by affirmation. The wording of the oath is as follows: "I fiincerely promise nnd swear thai I will bo faithful r.nd bear true allegiance to His Majesty King George the sth. So help me, God." ABOUT A TITLE. Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier) gave notice yesterday afternoon to ask the Prime Minister if it was true, that before leaving London the Minister of Finance had arranged that the honour of knighthood should be conferred upon his colleague tho Minister of Munitions, the Hon. A. \l. Myers. The Prime Minister: "I hope that the iuestion will not be placed on the Order Paper. It is a most improper question, and contains■« most improper reflection upon one of my colleagues.' , Mr. Drown: "It arises from correspondence I had from London. It may be wrong , ." The Speaker said that the member ehould be careful not to put questions reflecting upon members of the House.

WANGANUI DETENTION BARRACKS

TJie report of the Magistrate appointed to inquire into the allegations of cruelty to military prisoners at the Wanganui detention barracks was mentioned in the House yesterday. Mr. Holland (Giey) asked if the report had yet been presented to the Government. The Minister of Defence replied that the report had not yet been before Cabinet. As 6oon as it had been before Cabinet it would be dealt with and presented to the House. A MATTER OF PROMOTION. A point of some general interest is raised in a question placed on the Order Paper by Mr. Anderson (Matnura). Mr. Anderson asks if it is a fact that officers of the Territorial Force who have secured promotion in tho'field during the present war are required to revert to thoir original Territorial rank when they are discharged from the Expeditionary Force, "If this is the case," adds Mr. Anderson, "does the, Government think it is a. right thing, and how does tho Government justify the regulations?" THE GENERAL ELECTION. A question regarding a general election comes from Mr. Brown (Napier), who wants to know whether, in view of the results of recent by-elections, the Prime Minister proposes to repeal the legislation . extending the lifo of Parliament and have a general election at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. THE COUNCIL'S SPEAKER. It was announced in the Legislative Council yesterday that the election of a, Speaker,'to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the lato Sir Charles Johnston, would take place on Friday next. Tho Acting-Speaker of the Council,- tho Hon. W. I. C. Carncross, occupied the chair for two sessions, during the prolonged illness of the late. Speaker, and it is anticipated that he will bo elected to tho Speakership next week. Tlio Hon. 0. Samuel,' who ha-s been acting-chairman of committees, is likely to be given tho chairmanship. MANY QUESTIONS.' A flood of notices of questions descended upon the heads of Ministers when the House of Representatives met yesterday. Mr. Veitcli (Wanganui) wants to know ■ if tho Government will restore to Civil Servants the superannuation rights taken, fj'om them by the war legislation of 1917. Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) is asking the Government to push forward the Waikaremoana water-power scheme. Mr. M'Calluui (Wairau) and other members have questions regarding the recent fatal outbreak of diseaso on a. New Zealand transport. Mr. Statham (Dunedin Central) wants the Minister of Defence to supply a return showing the estimated cost of making the present rates of pension, pay, and allowance retrospective to Iho beginning of the war. Mr. Brown (N'apinr) suggests in a question that the. Government should reduce iho cost of living by placing an export dufy on meat, cheese, and butter. Mr. Bollard asks for figures showing the number of soldiers in the New Zealand camp 3at home and abroad, the number of men at sea, and the number actually required to replace wastage at tho front.