PARLIAMENTARY.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1928, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY.

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION ON THURSDAY.

WHAT WILL LABOUR DO ?

(“ Press ” Special.)

WELLINGTON, November 29. Preparations are well-forward for the opening of Parliament next Tuesday. The election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives will take place on Tuesday afternoon, after Parliament has been opened by Commission. It is expected that Sir Charles Statliam will be re-appointed, although until tiie Labour Party caucus is held it will not lie known whether that Party will put forward a candidate.

The new Speaker and the memberof the House of Representatives will attend in the Legislative Council Chamber on Wednesday to bear bis Excellency the Governor-General read the Speech from the Throne giving the reasons for calling Parliament together. THE SPEECH. It is expected that the Speech uill be brief. On former occasions when an extraordinary session of Parliament has been summoned to determine the Mate of parties, the Speech 'from Ibe Throne has been long, and lias contained references 'to the . legislative programme which the Government ol the day" had intended, carrying out. The present: circumstances are not strictly analogous, in. that there does not appear to be any doubt as to the position of the Government. Consequently, it is not anticipated that the Speech will say much more than that a General Election of members of the House of Representatives having been held in November, Ministers have advised that a meeting of the General Assembly should be convened at the earliest convenient opportunity to consider and determine matters coiu-oin-ing the general administration of the affairs of the Dominion, and any subjects which may appear to arise 'lor legislators’ immediate attention. Uriel reference may be made in the Speech to the economic and financial position of the Dominion.

■ * The ''‘■•'Address-in-Reply debate will probably commence in tie House ol Representatives on Thursday. It is customary to entrust new members with the honour of moving and seconding the motion, ( “Thai a rospectlul Address lie presented to his Excellency the. Governor-General in reply to his Excellency’s Speech.” Ihe mover next week will be ->ir A. I'.. Ansell (,( h;llmers), and the seconder Mr A. \\ . Jiall ( I I iiiral-.il. both new members. NO-CONKJHENCE MOTION.

As Sir Joseph Map] will no doubt- be recognised by the S maker as the Leader of the Opposition, be being able presumably to command 31 votes as- -against the Labour Party’s 19, Sir Joseph may give, notice on Wednesday afternoon, when the House reassembles after hearing the Governor-General s speech, o'f liis intention to move a noconfidence nine nd iiien t.

It may be that the Addross-in-Reply debate will commence on Wednesday night. No time lias been definitely fixed yet. and in that case Sir Joseph W’ard would probably not speak until Thursday afternoon, as it is usual to take only tin' supcehes of tho mover and seconder on the first night. In any ease it is almost certain that Sir Joseph s speech wil be begun on Thursday afternoon. Sir Joseph Ward will ho followed by a .Minister, and the debate will then continue until such time as it is mutually agreed to take a division. Jf Mr Holland moves an amend mont to Sir Joseph Ward's amendment the first division will take planon Mr Holland’s proposition. The real test will come later, and it is not disputed that the Labour Party will vote with- the United Party to turn the Government out, although it may happen, ns has been the case in the past, that in the preliminary skirmish (i 1 any) .;,,. United and Reform Parties will vote together against the Labour ;.ieendnieiitA :

It is not likely that a new Chairman of ’• Committees- will lie elected during *ic xborl session. Air llockly, who Was, /chairman in the last Parliament, was defeated at the election.