PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 311, 28 June 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1912, THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The second session of the eighteenth Parliament opened to-day at 2.30 in wet weather, and the broken-up condition of Parliament Grounds, owing to the erection of the new House of Parliament, limited the public attendance outside, and visitors to the galleries and the floor of the chamber were few in number. The Governor, attended by his A.D.C. and a number of Territorial officers, entered the Legislative Council Chambers punctually to the house, and members of the House having been summoned, His Excellency read the Speech, which occupied forty minutes, and retired. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council then met for business. The Hon. O. Samuel, who had been appointed to fill the position of Leader of the Council, vice the Hon. J. McGowan, said he had consented to take the position temporarily at the request of the Government. He hoped that before long the exceptional circumstances would be so altered that the leadership would be made permanent by the appointment of a Cabinet Minister holding j a portfolio. Meanwhile, he could do no j less than the late Mr. McGowan had done ' in acceding to the request of the Government, and would, with confidence, ask the indulgence of the Council. A message from the Governor was read announcing the appointment to the Council of Sir W. J. Steward, the Hon. T. Y. Duncan and Mr. T. Parata. The two former were sworn in, and took their seats. Mr. Samuel moved motions of appreciation of the services and of condolences with the families of the late Hon. J. McGowan, Sir John Logan Campbell and other recently-deceased members of Parliament. The motions were similar to tliose moved in the House, and were i carried after brief speeches of apprecia1' tion by several members. ■Sir W. J. Steward gave notice to move the Address-in-Reply. ,i The Council then rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30, and was summoned to the Council to hear the Governor's Speech. On resuming, the finding of the judges in the Wairau election case was formally presented to the House. Mr. McAllum gave notice to move the Address-in-Replv. After Mr. McAllum's motion to move the Address-in-Reply, Mr. Massev gave notice to move "a certain amendment" to the Address-in-Reply motion. Mr. Millar was granted leave of absence for one week. The Prime Minister moved that the House records its high sense of appreciation of the services rendered by the Hon. Jas. McGowan in both branches of the Legislature, and the loss sustained by his death. Mr. Mackenzie said that it was seldom the House met now without it being necessary to place on the records the decease of some ex-members.

Mr. Massoy, in seconding the motion, referred to the rapid passing away of the pioneers of the country. Mr. McGowan, lie said, was a typical specimen of the race to which lie belonged. He .never turned his back on a friend.

Sir Joseph Ward made a eulogistic reference to the late Mr. McGowan.

Motions of condolence were passed in connection with the deaths of Sir John Logan Campbell, Dr. ,1. Wallis, Mr. Richard Monk, the Hon. R„ Peeves and Mr. Henry Hurst. * ' > ?l ' ! >t

Oil the motion of the Prime Minister the House adjourned at 4.-20 out of respect to the memory of the deceased gentlemen.