OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3810, 26 June 1928, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATION FORESHADOWED. The third and final session of the twenty-second Parliament of New Zealand, will open on Thursday next. The commencement- of the Ad-dross-in-Reply debate may take place either on Tuesday night or Wednesday afternoon. According to an announcement

by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. •L G. Coates), the mover of the formal resolution that a suitable reply he forwarded His Excellency will he Mr P. Waite (Chitlin), and the seconder Mr A. Bell (Bay of Islands). Notable absentees from the opening' of Parliament will include the .Minister of Labour (Hon. G. J.

Anderson), Sir Joseph Ward, and Mr T. M. Wilford and the Hons. Sir William Hall-Jones, Sir Thomas Mackenzie and J. A. Hanan. LICENSING BILL. As the Prime Minister has publicly announced that Parliament will have an opportunity of considering licensing legislation, speculation is rife as to whether Air Coates himself intends to again introduce a Bill or whether he will leave that task to a private member. DAYLIGHT SAVING. There is a general expectation I hat an endeavour will be made by Mr T. K. Sidey and his supporters to secure permanency for daylight saving. RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. Another private member’s Bill that may be looked for is the Religious Exercises Instruction Bill of last session, the second reading of which was deferred to enable the promoters to consider the application of the Nelson system as recommended by the Education Committee of the House. GAMING AMENDMENT. The subject of gaming- is bound to be discussed, but whether the opportunity for debate will be provided through the re-appearance of Sir George Hunter's Gaming Amendment Bill remains to be seen. The measure contains three provisions—telegraphic betting, publication of dividends, and the use of the double totalise tor. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS.

Empowering legislation dealing with unemployment may be expected early in the session. This is the measure which enables local authorities to raise money for unemployment relief without first approaching the ratepayers. The Kinematograph Films Bill, which was circulated last session, will be proceeded with. The object of the measure is to encourage the exhibition of British-made pictures. The proposals for the regulation of oil prospecting in the Dominion as set out in the Petroleum- Bill are also due for consideration. The

Bill was not proceeded with last session, the understanding being that it would go forward this year.

It is understood that the Minister of Lands has had under consideration a new scheme for land settlement, and that a measure giving effect to it may appear.

Certain of the matters raised at the last Municipal Conference have been gone into with the result that amendments to the Municipal Corporations Act will be introduced. The session should last about three months, finishing in time to

enable the parties to take the hostings some weeks before the general election, which is expected to ba held early in November.