Parliament Awakens To Life Once Again

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 699, 26 June 1929, Page 10

Parliament Awakens To Life Once Again

NO CAUCUSES YET MR. COATES’S PLANS (THE SUS’S Farliarncntarj/ Reporter} WELLINGTON, Today. ’ Following a period of quieacence. in which the footsteps of the visitor to the House echoed drearily through long corridor,. Parliament awakened to partial life yesterday, when members started to drift in and Bellamy', opened. The day, however, was very quiet. The Prime Minister was up for the first time for a week, following confinement te his room through a cold, and attended a meeting of Cabinet. So far there is no news o£ caucuses of any party, and it is possible that there will be no caucus until Thursday, as the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, and Mr. Holland, Labour leader, and Mr. W. C. Black (Motueka), Government Whip, are at present in Westport held up by earthquake business. They are expected to arrive in Wellington by the Arahura on Thursday morning. No announcement is forthcoming as to the mover and seconder of the Address-in-Reply, but names should be available today. Several South Island members arrived by ferry yesterday and some from Auckland. The Hon. J. B. Donald and the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy have yet to come from Auckland.

On Friday the Imprest Supply Bill will come before the House. As Sunday is the last day of the month, already there is talk of an all night debate, as discussion on the Bill may embrace any subject at all. Rumours are floating about as to Mr. Coates’s moving a motion of no confidence during the debate and. when questioned on the point some days ago, he refused to give an answer. It is not thought that any good will result from his flinging such a bombshell into the enemy camp, as it is almost certain that Labour will vote with the Government. Members also say that Mr. Coates said, during the short session, that he would give the Government a fair chance. Government members do not know themselves when the caucus will be held, and evidently the date of the meeting is locked up in the brain of the Prime Minister. Probably it will be held next week.

Questioned as to the Cabinet meeting yesterday, Sir Joseph Ward said that there was nothing to report. Today the House will assume a still more bustling appearance, and pre-sessional business win be the order.

The opening will take place at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. As the GovernorGeneral and Lady Alice Fergusson and party leave Government House the salute of ID guns will be fired by the R.N.Z.A. from Point Jerningham Battery. The Vice-Regal party will be received at Parliament House by a guard of honour consisting of 100 men from the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, under Lieut. Cross and Lieut. Reid. The band of the Ist Wellington Regiment, under Lieut. B. J. Shardlow, will be in attendance.