PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1921, Page 1

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Fitl)M THE PRESS GALLERY

(By our special reporter). WELLINGTON, March 10. The opening of Parliament was a brief ceremony to-day. The GovernorGeneral's speech was short and noncommittal and members of the House were back in their own Chamber within a few minutes, AN AMENDMENT. Then the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Wilford) got in first blow by giving notice of the pillowing amendment to the Addross-in-R eply. “This house is of .opinion that tho Dominion should be adequately represented at the approaching Imperial Conference, hut in view of the grave issues before the country affecting ( >very Department ol the State, and the important questions waiting to be dealt with, it. records its emphatic protest against the holding up (,!' the country’s business by the prorogation of Parliament beyond the usual time. There is reason to believe that tho Labor Part y bad planned to bring forward a similar amendment. (,) PEST lONS ASKED.

Then members began to bombard Ministers with questions. Mr Massey and bis .Ministers insisted that ques thins must be placed on the order paper. They were not willing to give unconsidered answers on the first day of session.

The Prime Minister replying to a question put by Mr Wilford, sniil be proposed to nsk the House to open the Address-in-Roply debate on AfondiYy evening. He thought there would not be more than two or three Bills. TO PUSH ON. The starling off of Monday sittings at this stage of the session, makes it (dear that Mr Massey is planning to complete the work before Easter. DEPARTED MEMBERS. Reference will lie made in both Houses to-morrow, to members and exmembers of the Legislature who have died since last session. A DECIDING FACTOR. Mr Wilford’s amendment will have the effect of making the Address-in-Replv debate the occasion for deciding whether or not Mr Massey ought to go to the Imperial Conference. Labour members and some of the independents are expected to support the Libera leader, but tb 0 majority against the amendment is bound to be substantial. BUTTER COMMITTEE. The Butter Committee met in Wellington to-day and subsequently conferred with Mr Massey. Proceedings are not complete and no pronouncement- is being made. The committee is seeking information through Government as to market conditions likely to prevail when the Imperial contract expires at flic end of this month. A reduction on the contract price is certain. Government will not continue the subsidy to that reduction, so it may not affect the retail price immediately. This is one of the points to be considered. MEAT FREIGHT'S. Mr Massey lias exchanged further cablegrams with the Imperial authorities meal- freights. He points out that the market here is threatened with collapse and that the Dominion finances must be most seriously affected unless relief is afforded. Ho regards reduced freights as essential. The British authorities. have offered to fix' rates on the basis of one pennv seven-eighths plus ten per cent, for mutton, but Air Massey does not rc„.ml this small concession as adequate, ond has cabled another strong protest.