PARLIAMENT RESUMES.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1915, Page 4

PARLIAMENT RESUMES.

A GOOD BEGINNING. , / (By Telegraph.-£peeial to Daily New») 4 Wellington, August 19. The Opposition benches wore almost a deserted appearance when the House resumed after its fortnight's holiday this evening, the transfer of the six Liberal members of the National Cabinet to the other aide having swollen the majority of one previously there to thirteen, and the proceedings were so decorous,, audi the little speeches in «uch admirable, taete, that the casual spectator might have imagined the parties had really buried 1 their political differences and. brought the legislative millenium within measurable distance. The only discordant note, as might have been expected, if it were to be stirred at all, came from the memtier for Asuburton, who, hating obtained permission to ask the new Minister of Education a question without notice, demanded to know ;. why Mr. Hanan, accompanied by the member for Tiiparu, had visited a sthool in his electorate Without giving him due notice. A murmur of disapproval ran round the House as the aggrieved member'proceeded to enlarge upon the Ministers lack of manners and the poor augury it offered for the success of the party truce, but when the Speaker had peremptorily ordered him to his seat Mr. Hanan explained, in the most conciliatory tones, that he had ventured to cross the border between tk,e two constituencies at tho urgent reqtieat of tbe inspector, and had not thought of asking his friend, Mr. Oraigie, to remain on the other side.

THE SEATS OF THE MIGHTY.. It seemed passing strange to those who had witnessed the warm passage of arms between Mr. Masseyand Sir Jo: seph Ward during tjie session that preceded the general election to discover these two gentlemen sitting side by side in one of the double desks that made up the front row of the treasury benches, and occasionally consulting with genial frankness over the v pile ol papers that lay before them. Mr. Allen, who cordially greeted tho new Minister of Finance before taking his seat, occupied the place on the Prime Minister's left hand, and next to him was Mr. Herries, a« amiable and cheerful as his chief. On Sir Joseph's right Dr, McNab looked as earnest and as intent on business as ho always is, and then came Mr. Herdman, of the inscrutable countenance, utterly unperturbed by the strange conditions. These constituted the front benvh. Behind them sat Mr. Fraser, to the extreme right of tho Speaker, Mr. Hanan, Mr, Russell, Dr. Pomarc, Mr. Myers and Mr, Mac» Donald, In close proximity to their sent iors, with, Mr, Malcolm, the chairman of committee, dividing Mr. R. H. Rhodes from his old colleagues,

THE FORMALITIES. After a number of petitions had beiit presented and questions answered, the Prime Minister told the House all the public had known days before about the Xatlonal Cabinet, and told it go woll that he was readily pardoned the iteration. Mr. Massey spoke with much greater freedom, and with more effect, than lie did when he last mentioned the subject in the House, and did not forget to mention the spirit of self-sacrifice and patriotism displayed by the Opposition, as well as by the members of his own party. He was careful, too, to emphasise the fact that the union of the Parliamentary forces for war purpose-, did not mean they had abandoned their party convictions.

Sir Joseph.Ward was equally happyi in one of those delightful little apeccW with which he occasionally treats the' House. He spoke with cordial appreciation of the loyalty of his own supporters, and paid a warm tribute to the courtesy and steadfastness of his political opponents.

THE HIGHEST XOTE. Admirable as were the speeches dulivorod by Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, the highest note of all was. struck by Mr. Wilford. speaking from the seat lately occupied by the Leader of the Opposition, whore 'he was suspected of brewing trouble for bis old friends. The member for HutttM'lshed the National Cabinet, which he regarded as the epitome of the nation's high resolve, complete success in the great task it had undertaken, and promised Ministers every possible assistance he could Rive them, in raising the proceedings of Parliament from sordid party wrangling to devoted service to the State. Tho language and the manner of the Bpeecli' left absolutely nothing to be dcsiredi and its spirit was so inspiring that even! the most disappointed aspirant for office* must have blushed for any feeliajs ot pergonal grievance he even had enter« tained. A few appropriate word* from Mr. Rhodes, acknowledging the Wgli compliments paid to him by the other speakers, closed an incident that wj]J remain memorable in the history of th< Parliament of the Dominion.