POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 10 June 1909, Page 3

POLITICAL.

The House of Representatives which assembled informally last Monday, was a vastly changed Assembly from that which separated at the tlose of last session. More than one-third of the members of the late Parliament are absent, and of a House of 80 no fewer than 28 are new members. Ten members of the late Parliament did not seek reelection, 16 were defeated, one (Mr Hone Heke) died alter re-election and the place of another (the Hon. J. McGowan) became vacant on his elevation to the Legislative Council. The chamber has been quite transformed since last session, and the altered surroundings served to emphasise the great change that has taken place since Parliament last met. A conspicious feature, of course, is the increased number of seats now filled by Opposition members.

Apart from the speeches of Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Massey at Monday’s informal meeting of Parliament there was comparatively little of real interest in the discussion on the question of the representation of the Government at the Conference, , the whole question having been virtually settled in caucus. It was known that the Government had the support of a large majority, and that the Opposition, under the circumstances, would content themselves with offering a strong protest to prorogation before the business was completed. Nobody objected to the Premier going Home, and the Opposition was confined to putting off the session.

Sir Joseph Ward made a vigorous speech of just under two hours. Mr Massey made all his points in under one, but it was soon apparent that the Opposition were beaten. Alter Messrs Taylor and Allen had spoken, and the latter had moved his amendment to continue the session, it was evident that the sting had been taken out of the debate, which hereafter drifted on to a variety of subjects bearing little on the main question. Unemployment and internal defence formed the staple of discussion. One might have imagined that Parliament was in session, and was at the fag end of a discussion on a motion to go into Supply. '