PARLIAMENT OPENED.

Otaki Mail, 9 February 1923, Page 2

PARLIAMENT OPENED.

MR STATHAM (DUNDDIN) ELECTED SPEAKER, MR M' COMBS*NOMINATED BY LABOUR PARTY. Parliament was opened on Wednesday afternoon by a commission consisting of the Hon. Sir Walter Carncross, speaker of the Legislative Council; the Hon. Sir Francis Bell: the Hon. Sir William Eraser; and the Hon. Sir William Hall-J one.-. The opening ceremony was performed in the Legislative Council chamber, where the members of both Houses were assembled to hear the Commission resd. After this was done the members of the House of Representatives were requested to repair to their chamber and elect one of their number Speaker, and to present him at II o'clock on the following morning for the approval of Hh Excellency. The ceremony was brief, occupying less than eight minutes. Practically the sole business of the afternoon was the nice'ion of a Speaker of the House of Representative. For this position Mr C. E. Statham '.vs.* nominated by Mr J. Me. Dickson. A little later Mr H. E. Holland (Labour) nominated Mr McCorabs, and invited the House to use the occasion as a test of p»rty strength. Thi- Mr Wilford said the Liberals would not do, and he announced that they would support the nomination oi Mr Statham. Mr Statham was elected by c,i votes to 17. onlv the members "f the Labour Party and Mr H. Poland (Ohinemuri) voting against. OFFICIAL OPENING. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION 01 DOMINION. NO THIRD CUT IN PUBLIC SERVICE. TWO NO CONFIDENCE MOTIONS. The official opening by His Excclleccy the Governor-General of 'he 2i»t Parliament of New Zealand took place yesterday afterrx/on. the full ceremonial being observed. His Excellency read the .Speech from the Throne, which (stated on follows the reason for Parliament beinst called together so soon:— "A Genera! Election of members of the House of Representatives having b«>n held in December la*t, my Minister.- have advised that a meeting of the General Assembly sboald be convened at the earliest con-

: vecient opportunity to eontidar and determine matters eoneeniing the general administration of the affairs of the Dominion, and any subjects which mar appear to arise for your immediate deliberation. " In view of the session to be eoavensd for Jane next, it is stated that practically no legislatiou is to b* submitted, with the exception of w&at mz.? b* aftcessarv to postpone tea date (Maris 31st, I&23) appointed for the coming Into; fore* of the Stamp Duties Ac: paa•sed during the last session ol Parliament. It is also announced that, on account of the improvement iff the financial position of the Dominion, the third "cut" is tie public service coit-of-livicg bonus will not be enforced. The Leader of the Opposition 'Mr T. M. Wilford) and Mr H. E. Holland (chairman of the Official Labour Party) gave notice of amendments to the A<s- - Another tactical move on the part of the Leader of the Opposition was the announcement of his intention .to asfe leave to introduce- an Electoral Before Bill and an Agricultural Banis Bill. Notices were given to introduce e. number oi ot'cgt bills.