PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1008, 17 February 1912, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

FORMAL OPENING

The eighteenth New Zealand Parliament was opened on Thursday afternoon. As is usual on the first assembling of a new House alter a general election the ceremony was merely a formal one, and was carried out by a Commission consisting of seven members of the Legislative Council, The ceremony took place in the Legislative Council Chamber, whither the members of the Lower House were summoned on the arrival of the Commissioners —Sir Charles Bowen (Speaker), Sir George McLean and the Hons. Captain W. D. Baillie, T. Kelly, C. H. Mills, J. E. Jenkinsou and J. McGowan. Only a tew minutes were occupied by the formalities. Sir Charles Bowen read the commission empowering the Commissioners to act on the Governor’s behalf and the Clerk of Parliaments (Mr L. Stowe) read the letters patent, alter which it was formally intimated that on the following afternoon the Governor would declare in person “ the cause of calling this Parliament together.” The oath of allegiance was taken by members of the House of Representatives after they had heard the Commission call Parliament together. Then, with unanimity, which is not likely to be repeated this session, they elected Sir Arthur Guinness, member for Grey, as Speaker. Mr J. A. Hauau (Invercargill), in moving that Sir Arthur Guinness be elected Speaker, said it was the greater pleasure because he was not an inexperienced gentleman to that honourable position. Sir Arthur Guinness had a splendid Parliamentary record of twenty-eight years, during ten of which he had been Chairman of Committees and six years Speaker. His personal qualities and the admirable manner in which he had carried out the duties of his responsible office had won for Sir Arthur ihe highest esteem of his colleagues. New Zealand had never had cause to regret ill-behaviour on the part of its Parliamentary representatives, and he believed that the tact, wisdom, and judicious rule of the gentleman he had pleasure in proposing was in the main the cause of that good record. Mr A. M. Myers (Auckland West) seconded the motion, testifying as a young member to the courtesy and tact shown by Sir Arthur Guinness in the chair. The absence of scenes in the New Zealand Parliament was due, he believed, entirely to the qualities possessed by him. Sir Arthur Guinness expressed thanks tor the honour proposed to be conferred upon him. He was fully aware of the responsibility of the office, and to the best of his skill and ability he would endeavour to fulfill the trust, disregarding the claims of personal or political friendship.

There were no other nominations and Sir Arthur was thereupon escorted to the Speaker’s dais by his proposer and seconder. The Prime Minister tSir Joseph Ward) congratulated the Speaker, adding that he lelt sure he would continue to . exercise impartiality and give fair play. The fact that Sir Arthur Guinness was the oldest member of the House added to the confidence in which he was held.

Mr Massey (leader of the Opposition) also congratulated the Speaker upon his reappointment. He had noticed with pleasure a reference in one of Sir Arlnur’s recess speeches to his ideal of making New Zealand’s House of Representatives a model Parliament. That appealed strongly to him (Mr Massey) and he was sure the whole House would co-operate to that end.

Mr L,. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) congratulated the Speaker on behalf ol the Independents in Parliament, and hoped that although the oldest member, he would be an “evergreen.” Wellington, February 16. His Excellency the Governor delivered his Speech before Parliament to-day. Alter referring to the prosperity of the country, the Speech proceeded ; The very great and difficult question of revising our Focal Government law has had the closest attention ot my advisers, and a Bill will be introduced providing a completely new and comprehensive scheme, under which amongst many other reforms, the finances of local bodies and the important question of the construction and maintenance of roads will be placed on a more stable and satisfactory footing. This scheme will be made the basis for radical changes in the construction ol the Eegislative Council, and a Bill to carry this into effect will be introduced. Under this measure a proportion of the Eegislative Council will be elected by the members of the Provincial Councils, to be created by new Eocal Government Bill. A proportion will be elected by the members of the House of Representatives, and a certain number will be nominated by the Government.

My advisers consider that owing to the rapid disappearance of the last remnants of unalienated Crown lands legislation must be passed providing for the more effective subdivision, for closer settlement purposes, ol freehold estates of ,£25,000 unimproved value and upwards. To this end a Bill will be introduced giving the Crown power to take these estates compulsorily at a price to be fixed by the Laud Purchase Board, The Bill will provide that the land so

resumed shall be sold to small settlers under a deferred payment scheme, and in the event of the proceeds exceeding the price paid to the owner for the land, such excess with interest will be paid to him, or should the price realised be less than the deficiency. In order to promote the speedier settlement of unoccupied native lands provision will be made whereby surplus native lands shall be sold or leased on behalf of the native owners through the Crown, on the best terms obtainable. Such provision will operate concurrently with a vigorous prosecution of the purchase by the Crown of surplus native lands.

More stringent provisions will be made to deal with the aggregation of landed estates in contravention of the law, and power will be given the Courts to forfeit all land which has been aggregated in breach of the law, unless the Court is fully satisfied that the breach was unintentional.

The existing system with regard to limitation of area will be revised, and urovisiou will be made for the standards of living areas, based not merely upon the productiveness, but also upon the position, reading, etc., and all other main considerations affecting the area question. These standards will be so fixed as to give an area which, properly worked, will provide on a sate average ample means of subsistence lor a man, his wiie, and family, with sufficient margin for saving with a view to independence. Legislation will be introduced to prevent trafficking in Crown leases, and provision will be made that where a tenant sells his lease without satisfactory cause, before a certain number of years has expired, a portion of the price he obtains for goodwill will be taken by the Government. The shorter the period the tenant retains his lease the larger the share the State will receive.

My advisers will place before Parliament a statement of the finances of the country, which, it is gratifying to know, are in a buoyant and satislactorv position. The graduated laud tax will be adjusted and made more uniform, the rates being increased from the poiut of £ 20,000 unimproved value upwards. The main purpose of the new graduated land tax will be to compel subdivision iu order to insure closer settlement of the lauds. The Laud Tax will also be revised and exemption for taxation purposes will be raised to ,£I,OOO, so as to give further relief to farmers and occupiers of small holdings. Legislation will also be introduced to distinguish for taxation purposes between earned and unearned incomes, so that earned incomes shall bear a smaller burden of taxation than tnose which are unearned.

It is proposed to create a standing Commission ot Industrial investigation, consisting of two representatives ot the labour unions and one each of the industrial, commercial, and lauded interests. This Commission will inquire into any question affecting the cost ol living, the existence ot monopolies, and other pressing social and industrial problems, including the question ot unemployment and sickness, and, alter inquiry, will reporf thereon to Parliament. It is proposed to amend the present Industrial Conciliatiou and Arbitration Act in the direction of removing causes that lead unnecessary to friction between employers and employees. Under the proposed amendment the President of the Arbitration Court will not necessarily be a Supreme Court Judge or other lawyer, but some practical and rceoguised authority in economic science. The Government have had under careful consideration, as a useful step towards industrial harmony, the promotion of voluntary profit-sharing, with a reasonable share tor the employees in the business in which they are employed in all suitable industrial enterprise, by means ot a new system ot Slate guarantee of the capital required by the workers on condition that the workers and employers jointly idemuify the State against loss. Substantial changes in our electoral law will be submitted.

A complete revision of the Customs by experts, and a reduction in the duty on tobacco and on many articles 111 daily use required by the small farmer, the workers, and their wives and ramifies, is foreshadowed. Further concessions will be made in railway- passenger fares for children. Up to live years of age they will travel tree, and from five to fourteen years at quarter rates. The principle of the existing system ol trained nurses will be extended by providing medical attendance tor all those who are not reasonably able to secure the same. Convalescent homes will also be established for mothers after maternity.

Legislation dealing with old age pensions will be submitted, fixing the age tor women at sixty years, and for widows at fllty-five years, without any restrictions as to children. Proposals lor invalidity cases will also be considered.

It is proposed to establish a Bureau oi Justice, by providing, at the expense ot the State in all proper cases, legal assistance for the protection or defence ol a man's rights and liberty where he has not the means of securing such assistance. The nationalisation of the iron industry and saleguar ling of oil resources are m the programme, Cottage farms lor workers and assistance to fruit growers are proposed. The Bill providing for State note issue will

be re-introduced, aud anomalies in the railway service will be adjusted. The final proposal is to make education free from the primary school to the university.