PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2022, 30 August 1919, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

The sixth session of the nineteenth Parliament of New Zealand I —the longest Parliament in the hi»- j tory of the country —was opened at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday by His Ex-"' ‘"1 celleney the Governor-General {the Earl of Liverpool). The ceremony was attended by the Coufltess of* Liverpool, Admiral of the Fleet count Jellicoe and staff, Lady Jelli- v eoe, and the iisual gathering of mili- • . tary officers and the public. The speech from the Throne referred, to the victory of the Allies, the attendance of the Dominion’s representatives at the Peace Con- ,i; ference, and the part played by the Dominion in the cause of Empire during the war. “You will be invited at as early date as possible, by resolution of_ both Houses, to ratify the treaty with Germany and to accept ■ the mandate of the League of Nations for the government and administration by New Zealand of that part of the Samoan Group which was formerly under German rule. ... The measures which you have passed in previous sessions providing for ■repatriation and for assistant to soldiers in various occupations, and especially-for the acquisition of land for their settlement, have in some respects proved to be insufficient, and amendments of the existing laws on these subjects have - been prepared, and will be submitted. , The Mortgage Extension Act •and its amendments expire on the 31st of the present month, and require, immediate attention, and you will be ashed to pass with as little • delay as possible an Expiring Laws Continuance Act, -which will the, operation of those Acts for a further period. You will later be re- ■ quested to consider an amending and consolidating Act continuing for a certain period the existing limitations upon the powers of mortgagees, and defining a time when these limitations may be safely removed.

Bills amending the Railways Act, the labour laws, the' Workers’ Dwellings Act, the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, the land laws, the Alining Act, the Coal mines Act, the Chattels Transfer Act, the Post and Telegraph Act, and others, have been your consideration. “The visit of the Admii’al of the Fleet, Viscount Jellicoe, to New Zealand is an event of far more than ordinary importance. One part of the great trust imposed upon him by the Imperial Government is that of considering the subject of the naval defence of the Commonwealth and of this Dominion, and offering advice to the respective Governments.

The wider subject of the British in- , terests in the Pacific, and provision for their general defence and protection, Avill also- have his consideration. The appointment of one so distinguished for the purpose the importance of the duties entrusted to him. Aly Alinisters trust that his inquiries and reports Avill have the effect of removing many ■ difficulties, and of enabling both the Imperial Government and the Dominions concerned to more clearly appreciate the dangers of th» present ? and the future, and the best means of united preparation to meet them.” NOTES, Air J. B, Hiue gave notice to ask if the Alinistor of Defence Avould have the payments of Avar gratuities made on the basis of a Hat rate. Air J. P. Luke wished to knoAV if the Aluiister Avould give consideration to the claims of the men, Avho received no increases, though the officers received increases during the Avar period. Air A. E. Glover, asked the Alinister when, the payments Avould be made. The treatment of AvidoAVS and orphans was referred to by Air H. Poland, who Avished to know if the Government Avould grant the same State assistance to widoAvs and orphans as Avas given to the widows and orphans bereaved in the epidemic, and if the assistance Avould be given in case of incapacity through sickness. •

Now that the Australian strike is ended, Mr W.' H. Field wished the Minister of Railways to say when the Government would restore the normal service and end the incon-^— < venienee and loss caused by the restrictions.

Dr . A. K. Newman desired to know if the Government would introduce legislation to cheek profiteering, and so relieve the present high cost of livink.

Mr W. H. Field asked if it was correct that the’ price of footwear had increased about 35 per cent, in the last weeks, and, if .so, what justification was there for such an. increase? . ,

Amending labour legislation was given notice of by the Labour members. The Factories. Act, the Arbitration Act,® the Workers' Compensation Act were among the measures proposed to be amended. Dr. Thacker asked if the Government would legislation Tor the compulsory universal Saturday half-holiday from noon, and for “Mondayising” of public holidays, t.