WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

OPEXfXG OK PA LILT AMENT. ABSEXCE OF GOYERNORGEXERAL. (Special to '* Guardian.”) AVKLLIXGTOX. June IS. The opening of Parliament yesterday was deprived oT most of the usual spectacular features by the absence ol Mis Excellency the Governor-General who was unable to attend the ceremony on account of an acute attack of lumbago and the insistence of his jncdieal adviser upon his keeping to his room at Government House. There was no salute of guns, no vice-regal drive through the streets of the city, no use for ihe guard of honour, and though the public servants had their usual hour off duty the excuse for the concession was lacking. Sir William C'urneross. the Speaker of the Legislative Council and chief of the commission at the previous day's ceremonies, filled the role of Governor-General so far as the reading of the Speech was eoncerned anti Lore hiin>oll. as long observation ami experience enabled him to do. with the precision and (lignite proper to the occasion. the Speech itself was couched in the language employed in such utterances from time immemorial and had neither the virtue of brevity nor the vice of loquacity. It was the usual catalogue of the Government’s achievements and good intentions, arrayed with a little more literary grave, perhaps, than is usually found in the utterances thrust upon Mis Excellency by his constitutional advisers. THE SPEAKERSHIP. The threatened opposition to the reelection of Mr C. L. Slatham as Speaker faded away weeks ago and there was no talk oi demising the chosen of last Parliament when members assembled in Wellington this week. The truth is that Mr Statham had displayed such conspicuous tact and ability as president of the House that no one. whatever personal grievances he might entertain, could suggest a valid reason for making a change. .Mr .1. .McC. Hickson, the member for Chalmers, moved the reelection of the previous speaker and Sir George Hunter, the member lor Wai|Niwa. seconded ihe motion in appropriate little speeches, and there being no other nomination Mr Statham was accompanied to the chair b\ his sponsors and duly installed. Ol the congratulations offered him the most eloquent and opportune came from Mr If. K. Holland, the leader of the new Opposition, who. speaking for the first time from the front benches, assured him. of the loyal support ami assistance of the Labour Party. " I am familiar with the names of the men who hate figured in the Speaker’s chair m the Parliament of Xew Zealand.” he said, after eulogising Mr '■'taiham’s personal and political finalities. “anil 1 (Link f can say without

exaggeration that you, Sir. as Speaker in the last Parliament, proved yourself' the ablest Speaker this country ever lias possessed.” Frank praise could go no further. HIS EVE OX FINAXCE.

Sir Joseph Ward, who has returned from his living visit to Australia in glood health and higili spirits, has started early upon his search tor information concerning the finances of the Dominion. In the House yesterday he gave notice of his intention to ask the Minister of Finance. (1) what the position is in respect to the amount raised for the payment ol the cost ol lhe battle-cruiser New Zealand. (-) what, oortion of the surplus mentioned in Ihe Governor-General’s speeeli has been applied to the reduction ol the indebtedness of the Dominion, and (3i what reduction in the country’s debt would have been effected had the sinking fund system lie had instituted remained i,li oponifiion. The question deals with matters of the remote past

—as the politic-isms of to-day count t inn;—anil is mil likely to arouse a groat (Icsil of interest in the 1 louse; but to Sir Joseph, in its Lhree-tokl aspect, it is of more than passing consequence. Apparently the ox-Primo .Minister tvnnts the present Alinister nf Finance to explain how the cost o! the Dominion's gift battleship conies still to be a cnnrgo upon the Treasury and bow the account would have stood Inul bis mi o scheme ol payment been maintained. Doubtless .Mr Ronnie Stewart will lie ready enough to suplily the information, but just what protit will arise from the inquiry remains to be seen. MOW LORDS. It is understood that When the new House settles down to business the fiabonr Opposition will seek to initiate a. discussion on the Ooverninent’s recent nominations ol Legislative Councillors. The appointment of Mr L. M. Isitt and Mr George Witty to the Council may he allowed to pass without any serious comment, because it is generally understood that their appointments were made in discharge of an obligation which came to the present ■ Prime Minister from his predecessor. But the three appointments just announced, those of the Hun .1. A. |fanaii. Mr T. S. Weston and Air J. Carrington, appear to be legitimate subjects for inquiry and discussion. It is true that Mr Hanau served for a. number of years in the House of Representatives and rendered admirable service to the country as .Minister of Education in the National Ministry ; but there are scores of other gooil patriots at least equally well entitled to recognition at the hands of the Government. .Vs. for Mr Weston and Mr Carrington, the people know these gentlemen only as worthy citizens of good repute whose political activities have been confined hitherto solely to the promotion of the cause ol Reform. This, at any rate, is the view the Labour Party is taking of the creation of those new “ lords ” and if Mr Holland and bis followers get an opportunity to discuss the appointments on the floor of the House they probably will make themselves interesting.