THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2539, 6 February 1923, Page 3

THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

OPENS TO-MORROW.

Wellington, Last Night.

Parliament will be opened to-mor-row by Commission, and the House will elect its Speaker. On Thursday the Governor-General (Viscount Jellicoe) will deliver the Speech and the House will then decide when it will proceed with serious business. The Address-in-Re-ply is to be moved by Mr Girling. The session is likely to last about ten days. An examination of the seats reveals several interesting facts. One is that Mr Witty, who had a front seat among the Reform last session, is to sit on the Reform side of the House in the place formerly occupied by Mr Clutha McKenzie. Mr Isitt’s name is attached to the place he used last session, one just behind the Leader of the Opposition. Sir Francis Bell will sit next to Mr Witty on the Government side. No seat bearing Mr Stathain’s name could be found. The Liberal caucus was held today, but no announcement was made of the resolutions, as the caumis is to be continued to-morrow because Messrs Ngata. and Forbes were unable to get here in time. The Labour caucus meets to-mor-row. A division will probably be reached towards the end of next week, and it. is expected the result will be Government 41, Opposition 38. The actual Reform strength is 38, but to it may have to be added the votes of Messrs Witty and Bell, for whom seats on the Government side of the House have been chosen, and Mr Isitt. This would make the Government’s voting strength on a noconfidence motion 41, and would reduce the Opposition from 42 to 39. Then there is the possibility of Mr Statham becoming Speaker, and thus the Opposition would total 38.