PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1918, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

THE OPENING CEREMONY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The fifth session of the nineteenth Parliament was opened at 2.30 this afternoon by the Governor-General, who wat accompanied by Lady Liverpool, the guard of honor consisting of units of the 44th Infantry Reinforcements. There was a moderate concourse of spectator*. THE NEW HOUSE. Members of the House of Representor tives assembled in the new chamber ( which has a floor space 65x43, rising tc a height of 38 feet, where it terminates in a cave ceiling, relieved by moulded panels and surrounded by floral decora*, tions and an expanse of stained glass, from which the main source of light is derived. To the height of the galleries the walls are panelled with figured Timu, while above the galleries, and supporting, the roof, run a series of round pillara' cast in decoration, the marble and con-* crete resting on a basis of black marble) from Talcaka, and surmounted by; bronzed caps. i _ Members', benches have been arranged In the orthodox fashion, Ministers being placed on the right of the Speaker, who I sits beneath an ornamental canopy com structed of puriri, which, together with the rimu panels, makes a fine display,.of' New Zealand's decorative timbers. i THE SPEECH READ. At 2.40 members were called by Black Rod to the Legislative Council tn hear the Governor's speech read. In th.-* gal-i lery of the council chamber were a number of new M.L.C.'s, with their wl-.naj. and daughters. His Excellency then read the SpocK from the Throne (published on page :!) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. After the reading of the speech, and, the departure fo the Governor-General, the party adjourned for a few minutes. On resumption, messages were received from the Governor-General, notifying the death of the Speaker—Sir Charles Johnston—, and the appointment of nine-t teen new members. All the new members present were sworn in.

The Leader of the Council (Sir Francis Bell) gave notice to move that the Hon. O. Samuel be the acting Chairman of Committeeg pending the election of t£ Speaker on Friday, November 1. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. QUESTIONS. On resuming, after return from tha Legislative Council, the newly-eketed members were sworn in as follows: Grey, Mr. Holland; Wellington Central, Mr, Eraser; Taranaki, Mr. S. G. Smith. The House then proceeded to formal business. The Council adjourned at 3.20 p.m. Mr. McCallum gave notice to ask the Government if they would appoint a Royal commission to inquire into £bV alleged overcrowding on the transport which carried the 40th Reinforcements. Dr. Thacker also gave notice of a series of questions on the same subject. Dr. Newman gave notice of his intention to ask the Government if they proposed to refer the liquor question to a referendum of the people. Mr. Jennings gave notice to ask tie Government if they would appoint a committee of the House to inquire into ths administration of the reserves by those public bodies endowed with public lands.

Mr, Sidey asked: (1) If the transport which carried the s 4otb. Reinforcement* was on her last voyage, prior to being put on the Atlantic run; (2) if infripnFW was not prevalent in the convoy of which the transport was one; and (3) how the percentage of deaths compared with other transports. Mr. Massey gave notice of his intention to introduce the Expiring Loans Continuance Bill. Notice was also given • of intention to introduce the following Bills: Toll-gates Abolition (Wilkinson), Definition of Time (Sidey), Legislative Amendment. (McCombs), Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment (Walker), Proportional RopresMH tation (Veitch), Police Force AmendA ment (Veitch), Dominion. State Sank' : (Veitch), - Naturalisation of Alien* (Brown).

Leave of absence was granted to Mr: Glover, on account of ill-heal^. Mr, Anderson gave notice that he would move at next Bitting day that a . respectful address be presented to bis; ■■ Excellency the Governor-General, in ni ply to his Speech from the Throne, TREATMENT OP CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOES. Replying to Mr. Holland, Sir James. ' Allen said the report concerning Ijhe al« .. leged ill-treatment of conscientious Ob-, jectors at Wanganui gaol had not yet been before Cabinet, and he was unable .'.'-. to make any announcement eoncerninjf *- ME. MASSEY ON THE NEW > ? : CHAMBER. ;■' Mr. Massey, in moving the adjourn-! > ment of the House, said he desired to -, ~ congratulate members upon being able » '■' to meet in the new chamber, which, no '• ' doubt, would be-tho principal council 5 .. chamber l of the Dominion for genera- } ■ tions, perhaps for liundrcds of years, i j and he could only express the hope thae 'i - within its walls there would be passed • "•" legislation which would mete' out equal ' : justice to all classes, and encourage a. J national spirit and ideas, which would if ■' tend to make New Zealand respected, i not only throughout the Empire; but* ■ amongst the whole of the nations of i the world. '; , The House adjourned at 3.40 till 3.30 " to-morrow.