PARLIAMENT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 45, 17 February 1912, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

OPENING PROCEEDINGS (Per Press Association.j

"Wellington, February 16

The practical opening of Parliament took place at 2.30 p.m. to-day when the Governor delivered his speech' to members hr both branches of the Legislature in the Council Chamber. His Excellency was attended by bis aide do camp, and accompanied by the Commandant of the forces and staff officers. He was saluted by the guard of honor as he arrived in Parliament Grounds, and immediately proceeded to the Council Chamber, which was thronged in ercry available space with eager spectators anxious to know the contents of the speech. The whole ceremony was one of unusual interest. As soon as members of the House, beaded by Mr. Speaker Guinness, were marshalled on the floor of the Council Chamber, His Excellency read in a clear tone the speecli placed in bis hand by Hon. McGowan .(Leader of the Council). The reading occupied nearly 25 minutes, and was a surprise to many, who expected only a brief mention as to the causes,- which bad necessitated an early assembly of the Legislature.

After the speech, members of the House returned to their own chamber, and later the Council met, and Hon. Callan, having given notice to move the Address-in-Reply, it was adjourned until 2.30 on Tuesday.

The members of the House assembled at 2.30 and returned to their own , chamber after listening to the speech in the Council. No-Confidence Motion, Mr Reed gave notice to move tho Address-in-Reply. Mr Massey notified that .he would make an amendment thereto. Five Million Loan. Sir Joseph Ward read a communication from the High Commissioner, showing details of the cost of raising, the £5000.000 loan. In doings so, he spid that notwithstanding the fact that

he had informed the House last session that ho was not in possession of figures, it had since been repeatedly asserted that ho was keeping details hack. ,It had also been asserted in different parts of the country that the Cost of tho loan was in the region of,' £350,000, the statement also implying tho basest innuendoes and insinua- I ■ tions.seo! . : ‘ ' ; ' ; ; i ■ ; ■ Sir Joseph , then read, the lletter) m-‘ f questing, which hei-said'.reached /Weir-', lington. on January IGth of this iyear;ml i iThe.ifigures ffhoAtcd the' ; expebses.’ , l in-' ■; c'o’iineetien' yyith , the , of,' the ," 1 loan to be £111,816 4s 9s, and Sir Joseph stated that the not return was £96 6s 3*d per £IOO. MnrMassey said lie did not think , the .return, contained, tlio whole of those charges which should he rightly debited against the loan and, in particulal-, ho referred to the special provision governing conversion. : j •a Mr Herrics;.sa,id the. original estir/.; mate of tlio 'nek return of the loan u l as'very ranch greater than .‘flow given, ' ■ V. , , Sir Joseph Ward said he wanted to sec t|)e .gentlemen sitting opposite on e. tlio Treasury benches handling loans. They would make a holy mess of it -if over they got a chance to operate. It would make a bronze statue blush to >i hear of all the things-they were going to do. Now-that he had given all details in connection with the loan the Opposition were not satisfied. He would take the opportunity later to disclose all the information in his pigeon-holes and show people what a public man had to 'deal with. For attempting to pull down public life ho had never seen anythink like the tactics of the Opposition. He would make a prediction that the Opposition would not raise a loan so successfully as he had the five million one. Sundry Matters. Sir Joseph Ward then moved that the Clerk of the House, in the presence of Messrs Fraser and Reed, be authorised to open a parcel of Grey Lynn electoral rolls, as* the Returning ' Officer had inadvertently enclosed his marked copy of the roll.—Carried. Sir Joseph Ward moved the first reading of the Expiring Laws Continuance Hill pro forma. Ho also moved that the House place on record its high appreciation of the services rendered tho country by the late Mr Hugh Pollen, Under-Socretary for Internal Affairs. Mr Massey seconded. A letter was read from Colonel Porter, expressing appreciation of the re--solution passed by the House lakt session in connection with his volunteer services. Mr Fisher gave notice to introduce a Sunday Labour Bill, Proportional Representation Bill, and Legislature Amendment Bill. Sir Joseph Ward gave notice to in- , troduce on Tuesday the Local Government Bill and the Legislature 'Amendment Bill. The House adjourned at 3.15 p.m.