WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3509, 23 June 1920, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. . . PREPARATIONS AND SPECULA- j TIONS. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, June 21. The approach of the first session vf the new Parliament is being signalled j by the preparations and activities usual on such occasions. The "build- . ings" are undergoing their usual "brush up," the members of the scs- j sional staff are getting into their ; places, and there are frequent and pro- i longed meetings of the Cabinet. So far only one or two of the outside members of the House have a'rrivcd, i but quite a batch of them are expect- i ed to-morrow and there is sure to be! a full attendance for the election of j the Speaker on Thursday'. Not that ! there is likely to be any opposition J to the re-election of Sir Walter Long. Sir Walter was at a disadvantage in ! succeeding two very capable occupants of the chair eight years ago. but his i obvious desire to be impartial as between the" parties and his consistent J courtesy have won him many personal friend s among bis former political opponents and the public has almost forgotten, on which side of politics he formerly stood. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. The proceedings in the House, on Thursday will be practically confined to the election of a Speaker .and .as the choice of Sir Walter Lang is a foregone conclusion they need not occupy more than half-an-hour. The . Governor's speech will be delivered on Friday and as this will be the last occasion on which Lord Liverpool will have an opportunity to address the New Zealand Parliament it may be longer and of a more personal tenor than usual. The contributions of Ministers to the vice-regal utterances will include allusions to the visit.of the Prince of Wales, the continued prosperity of the country, the need for private thrift and public and all the usual platitudes hallowed by tradition to such occasions. p arii a " nient will not settle down to serious work until next week, but when it does it will find itself faced by a very comprehensive programme and the prospect of an exceptionally long session. THE GOVERNMENT.' Willi a substantial majority behind him Mr Masscy is able to take a very complacent view of the session so far 'as the party position is concerned. Apparently the symptoms of independence displayed by one or two of his followers during the general election have subsided and Ihe Maori representative who announced his intention to support the party thai had ; the .most to give, hi: constituents probably, yvill have no difficulty in detenniu.ir.g en which side his bread is buttered.._, The Prime Minister declared in sm9_°fj.s m 9_°fj.^ :s postprandial speeches the other day that he belonged to no party,, that he was the representative of the whole country, and no doubt he will live up to this ideal, so far as the exigencies | of party politics will allow.. But lie has no intention of abrogating his traditional rights of leadership^ is certain a number of important, measures he has in hand will go through the House in much the same, sjmpe as he "has framed them. . ..., THE LEADER OF THE. . OPPOSITION, r, -'.' ', ): The leader of the Opposition,, ■■■ the Hon. W. 1). S. :\lael)omtLd., J s!i ( y.j. na.: been taking ' things ' v quidtly t.)at-, his' home in Gisborne since the conclusion of the Prince's trip, returned to Wellington on Saturday evening, njuqh improved in health and declaring? himself in good form for the work of the session. He hn s not changed his view that the work of the > Opposition in the present Parliament will be jo help on to the best of its ability every measure the Government may introduce for the well-being of the community, i. He is not entirely satisfied with what he can see of the Government's finances nor with what he has heard of the rdministrafion of its_ land policy, but Mr Massey and his colleagues have been so reticent in regard ■to ~these ~,., 11,.] s. aed. indeed, in regard Jto all matters, that no useful criticism can T 7(, offered at the present juncture. It must be understood, however, that the Opposition's desire to avoid party 3 bickerings will not prevent it hitting ; 'on) ''<'« 'd should occasion arise.