OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 858, 28 June 1910, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Tliii Dominion’s talking shop and legislation-producing factory commences operations to-day. Our new Governor will present his first address to both Houses, which will bear reference to the passing of King Edward VII., and to our new monarch ; to the visit of Lord Kitchener and departure of Eon’ Plunket, A forecast of the Government’s programme will be outlined and a hundred and one other subjects touched upon. Then will follow the big korero by individual members who will elaborate, adorn, and labour the text until it is worn to pieces. The Address-iu-Reply will last about three weeks and then the House will settle down to its programme, which includes; The Land Bill, facilitating the Crown leaseholds into freeholds, with provision for the State sharing in the unearned increment. A change is also to be made in the graduated land taxation system by exempting town laud held for industrial purposes. The scheme for re-arrang-ing the grounds of old Parliament Building and Government Plouse to enable a complete plan for the erection of legislative and administrative buildings to be carried out on the site will be explained to Parliament, and it is highly probable that sufficient financial authority will be taken to make a start with a portion of the new Parliament building. A Local Government Bill, largely extending the authority of local bodies — though not encouraging the formation of small ones —is to be introduced, together with a Harbour Board Amendment Bill (providing for elective harbour boards on an extended franchise). To prevent combines from exploiting consumers, an Anti-Trust Bill, somewhat on the lines of the Australian Commonwealth measure, will be introduced. Finance will take up even more time than usual this session, by reason of the Prime Minister’s scheme for a sinking fund enabling provision to be made for the repayment of our national loans. Defence matters will receive attention, as the Act of last year requires to be brought into line with Lord Kitchener’s recommendations, including the extension of the age of compulsory service to twenty-five. It is also well within the bounds of possibility that the Government may proceed with amending licensing legislation.