WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1918, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

OPENING 01>' PARLIAMENT. THE SESSION'S PROSPECTS, (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Oct. 25. In spite of the wet, cold weather, which appears to have become chronic in Wellington, a considerable crowd gathered under verandahs and. umbrella* yesterday to see what it could of. the timehonored ceremonies connected with iheopening of Parliament. .Its reward was a small one, his Excellency the Gover-nor-General proceeding to the buildings with more haste and less impressiveness than usual, and on arrival disappearing within the sacred precincts without.unnecessary delay . The larger galleries in the new Chamber occupied by the members of the House of [Representatives, however, offered ample accommodation to the more curious, who knew h,ow, to gain admission, and the session was inaugurated with a very proper display of public interest in its prospects and possibilities THE SPEECH. The Speeech put into the mouth of !|is Excellency was commericUbly short and free from platitudinous periods. . It reiterated the obvious things in. the, obvious way concerning the war, and indicated quite a budget of measures to be submitted to Parliament. Among them are proposals for graining power to local: bodies to initiate hydro-e : ectric schemes, for tiie prevention of the aggregation of, land, for ' lemedying," as far as inay be possible, the increase in the cost, of living, for the preservation of New Zealand forests, and for the limitation of the export of timber. In addition to these, and perhaps the niyst important of all.-is a comprehensive-scheme for demobilisation and repatriation. Plainly, Parliament is not tq have the excuse of idleness for getting into chiefTHE LIQUOR QUESTION. No reference was made in the Speech to the liquor referendum, an omission from which people inside and outside Fariiarue.il are drawing their own conflicting deductions. In hope of bringing this matter to a head, Dr. Newman, a sturdy supporter of licensing reform, gave notice of a question asking the Prime Minister for a statement of his intentions. llr. .Massey did not' volunteer a reply forthwith, but probably will tell the member for Wellington East in duo course that the Government « following the constitutional cour.se of considering the petitions that are on thev way to the House before definitely declaring its policy. Meanwhile the popular opinion is that the petitioners will get their referendum.

THE NEW BUILDINGS. .The interior of the new Parliament Building?—still, of course, far from finfelted —was seen at a great disadvantage yesterday The Chamber itself, the galleries and the lobbies, had been hurriedly furnished for the occasion, and presented a patched and, in places, a Tagged appearance. All this will be remedied when the contractors and the Public Works 'Department have completed their jobs, but the improvement of the acoustic properties of the Chamber which at present leave very much to be desired, is not so certain. Even Mr. Massev. who does not miss much of what is said on the floor of the House, complained lie eoukl not hear a word of what a. member Hflft away from him was saying, and the plight of the Press Gallery was still more embarrassing.