PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

OPENING OF SIXTH SESSION,

Bjr Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The sixth session of the nineteenth Parliament of New Zealand, the longest Parliament in the history of the country, was opened at 2.30 p.m. to-day by his Excellency the Governor-General, the Earl of Liverpool. The ceremony was attended by Countess Liverpool', Admiral of the Fleet, Viscount Jellicoe and staff, Lady Jellicoe, and tho usual gathering of military officers and the public. An unusual incident, prior to tho arrival of his Excellency, was necessitated by tho resignation and re-appointment of the Leader of the Legislative Council during the recess. Sir Francis Bell, on his introduction before his Excellency arrived, said to the Speaker of the Council: "During the recent recess, I resigned my seat in the Council. His Excellency the Governor-General was pleased immediately to re-appoint me to be a member of the Council, as the warrant 1 now produce testifies, and for the better order of this day's proceedings his Excellency has been pleased to himself administer to me tho oath of allegiance prescribed by the Constitution." As the Governor-General left his residence, a salute of nineteen guns was fired from the Defence headtjnarterß. His Excellency was attended by his secretaries, Mr. A. C Day, a'ide-de-camp, Major-General Sir A. W. Robin, G.0.C., Brigadier-General Q. S. Richardson, O.C. Administration, Brigadier-General McGavin, D.0.M.5., Colonels A. Vere Bettongton, C M.G., R.A.F. (aerial adviser to the New Zealand Government), Whyte, Collins, Campbell, and Purdy, Commander Williams, RX, {naval adviser to the New Zealand Government), and Lieut.-Colonel Thorns, assistant military secretary. The guard of honor was provided by No. 30 Company (St. James') and No. 30 and 40 (St. Thomas'), Senior Cadets, under the command of Lieut. Colraa, who had with him Lieuts. Chriatopherson and Croker, the detachment for general purposes being provided by No. 31 Coy (Wellington City), Senior Cadets, under Lieut. Miles. Lieut.Colonel Andrews, General Staff, was responsible for the supervision of the military arrangements. The GovernorGeneral and liiß party entered the building by the main steps of the new building, a, covered in passage way being provided on account of the weather. Passing through the members in the lobby, th<) party entered the new Legislative Council Chamber, where the opening ceremony was performed in the presence of a large gathering. Added interest was given to the function by the presence of a number of naval officers from H.M.S. New Zealand, who took up a position on the left of the chair. The Speaker of the Legislative Council resumed the chair fifteen minutes after th> departure of his Excellency. Hon. J. B. Gow gave notice of his intention to move the Address-in-Reply. Sir Francis Bell gave notice that he would ask for leave to introduce the Mortgages Extension Act, If)IS, the Public Authorities (party walls/, Empowering Act, IUI9. the Official Documents and Appointments Act, 1010, and the Chattels Transfer Amendment Act. A message from Hie Governor-General stated that he had granted leave of absence to Sir Walter Buchanan, Colonel W. E. Collins, Hon. W. H. Triggs, and Hon C. H. Izard.

The Council adjourned until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.

HOUSE OP KEPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30, and almost immediately afterwards adjourned to the Legislative Council to hear the Governor's speech read. On resuming at 3.6, the Speaker announced that the Palmerston and' Wellington South seats having become vacant, and Mr. J. A. Nash and Mr. Robert Semple having been elected to fill the same, he called on those members to come forward and take the oath, which they duly did, the former being sponsored by Messrs. E. Newman and Pearce, and the latter by Messrs. Walker and Eraser.

MrVeitch presented a petition byJ.M. Mack, on behalf of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, praying that the Minister's power of veto 'over the decisions of the Railway Appeal Board should be abolished.

Mr. Massey gave notice for leave to introduce the Women's Parliamentary Rights Extension Bill. Replying to Mr. Glover, the Minister of Defence said it would only be a matter of a few days, or perhaps .hours, before, his scheme of soldiers' gratuities would be laid before the House. "

Mr. Brown (Napier), gave notice to ask the Premier if he proposed to introduce some system of proportional representation, or some other substitute for a second ballot-

Replying to Mr. Witty, Hon. D. H. Guthfie said' there was ample provision either to remit a year's rent oi capitalise the same in cases where land is settled by soldiers too late to get the year's crop in. This was now being done in many cases where land had been settled at the wrong season of the year. Each case was being considered on its merits. Mr. J. B. Hine (Stratford), gave notice to ask the Minister of Defence if, in fixing the amount of soldiers' gratuities, he would do so on the basis of a fiat rate.

Mr. Nash gave notice that on the next sitting day he would move that a respectful address be presented to the Governor-General in reply to his Excellency's speech from the throne.

Fourteen days' leave of absence was granted to the Hon. Colonel Rhodes, and ei.v days to Mr. Young. Mr. Masscy moved formally the first reading of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, which was agreed to on the voices, and at 3.49 the House rose till 2.30 to-morrow.

INITIAL PROCEEDINGS. (By Wire.—Special to Daily News.) Wellington, Last Night. The opening of Parliament followed th« usual course. The ceremony took place for the first time in the new Council Chamber, which had temporarily been made ready for the reception of members.

Lord Liverpool, who was supported by Lord Jellicoe and naval officers, as well as by high military officers, read his speech, which was noted to contain rather more of the Governor-General and less of the Government than is usual on these occasions. Both Hotises held brief sittings after the opening. In the Legislative Council, the Hon. J. B. Gow gave notice to move the Address-in-Reply, and Sir Francis Bell gave notice to introduce the Mortgages Extension Act Amendment Bill, and several other Bills.

Some interest attached to the seating of the members in the House of Representatives. Mr, Maisey and Sir Jameg

Allen sat together on the front Ministerial benches, and the other Reform Ministers around them- Mr. W, H. Field and Mr. A. S. Malcolm had also Beats in the front Ministerial benches. A fact probably without significance, was that Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. McDonald, Mr. Wilford, gir. James Carroll, Mr. Myers, Mr. Witty, and Mr. Brown occupied the front Oppositon benches, the two lastnamed members retaining the seats they held last session. Mr. Hanan and Mr. Russell, the twb Liberal ex-Ministers, who did not attend the Liberal caucus yesterday, were Beated on the left cross benches. Two new members—Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston North), and Mr. S. Somple (Wellington South), were sworn in by the speaker. The House is always a little interested when an advanced Labor member is called upon to take the formal oath of allegiance to King George. Mr. Semple promised to be faithful and bear true allegiance, but mumbled inaudibly at the words "To Hie Majesty King George the Fifth." Then there was a rush of notices of questions, motions, and Bills. Mr. Massey gave notice of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, which is required to continue the moritorium, and of the Women's Parliamentary Representation Bill, which will discharge the promise he made last year to give the House an opportunity of voting to admit women to Parliament. A dozen or more private members' Bills, gome of them old friends, made their appearance before the adjournment.

When the House meets to-morrow afternoon Mr. Massey will move resolutions referring to deceased Legislators, and will then propose an adjournment until Tuesday.

The passing of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill before the end of the month is not essential since the extension of the moritorium can be ailected by a validating clause later. « The Government will have a Bill on Tuesday dealing with the question of settlement of finance, mentioned in the speech. The action of the Minister for Landg in overspending the authorisations for soldier settlements requires to be validated, and additional authorisation is required at once. Mr. Massey intends to ask Parliament to deal with the ratification of the Peace Treaty at the earliest possible date, since the matter is regarded as urgent by the Imperial authorities. The Address-ln-Reply debate, which is to be opened by the new member for Palmorston North (Mr. Nash) will not commence before Wednesday at the earliest.

The decision of the Government regarding war gratuities is likely to be announced after the week-end. The matter was mentioned in tho House this afternoon, when Mr. Glover put a question without notice to the Minister of Defence, and was advised to wait for a few days. Major J. B. Hine (Stratford), found opportunity to suggest to the Minister that they should make the gratuity a flat rate for all ranks, officers receiving the same rate as the men. The Minister for Defence made no reply on this point.

The members of the Reform Party are to meet to-morrow evening, and it is an r tisipitted that the names of the new Ministers will be mentioned by the Prime Minister at tho gathering. Tbe announcement of the appointments is almost certain to be made before the House meets next week. The indications are that Mr. Massey will Ml the existing vacancies, and that retirements from the Ministry will be postponed until after the session.