WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

| opening of parjaament preparation and speo'ula--ITONS. ;

(Our Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, June 21

The approach of the first session of the new Parliament is being signalled 'hy the preparations and. activities usual on such occasions. The “Buildings” are undergoing their usual “brush up”, the members’of the sessional staff are getting into their places, and there are frequent and. prolonged meeti igs of the Cabinet. So far 'only one or two of the, outsidle members of the House have arrived, but quite a baton of them are expected to-morrow and there is- sure to be a full attendance for the [election of the Speaker on Thursday. Not that there is likely to bO any opposition to the re-election of Sir F. W. Lang. Sir Walter was at, a disadvantage in succeeding two very capable occupants of the chair eight years ago, but his obvious desire to be impartial as between the parties and his consistent courtesy have won him many personal friends among his former political opponents and the publi • has almost forgotten on which side of politics he formerly stood. THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.

The proceedings in the House, on Thursday will be practically confined tc the election of a Speaker and as the choice of Sir F. W. Lang is a foregone conclusion they peed not occupy more than half-an-hour. The Governor’s Speech will be delivered on Friday and as this will be the last occasion on which Lord Liverpool wall have an opportunity to address the New Zealand Parliament it may be longer and of a more personal tenor than usual. Tbc contributions of Ministers to the viceregal utterances will include allusions to the visit of the Prince of Wales, the continued prosperity of the country the need for private thrift and public economy and all the usual platitudes hallowed by tradition to such occasions. Parliament will not settle down to sei >- ous work until next week, but when it does it will find itself faced by n very comprehensive programme and the prospect of an exceptionally long ses. sion. THE GOVERNMENT. With a substantial majority behind him Mr Massey is able to take a very complacent view .of the session so far as the party position is concerned. Apparently the symptoms of independence displayed by one or two of his followers during the general election has subsided and the Maori representatives who announced his intention to 1 support flic party that had the most to give his constituents probably will have no difficulty in determining on which side Ins bread is buttered. The Prime Minister declared in one of his postprandial speeches the other day that lie be- ‘ longed to no party, that he was ; lie representative of the whole country, and no doubt he will live up to this idpal, so far as the exigencies of party politics will allow. But he has no intention of. abrogating his traditional rights of leadership and it is certain a number of important measures he has in hand will go through the house in much the same shape as he has framed them. THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

The leader of the Opposition, the Hou W. D. g. MacDonald who has been taking things quietly at his home in Gisborne since the conclusion of the. Fringe’s trip, returned to Wellington on Saturday evening, much improved m health and declaring himself in good form for the work of the session. He has not changed his view that the work of the. Opposition in the present, Parliament will be to help on to the beet of its ability every measure the Government may introduce for the wellbeing of the community. He is net entirely satisfied with what he can see of the Government’s finances nor with what he has heard of the administantion of its land policy, but Mr Massey and his colleague have besen so reticent in regard to these matters, that no useful criticism can be offered at the present juncture. It must be understood, however, that th© Opposition’s desire to avoid party bickerings will not prevent it hitting out hard should occasion arise.