OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10552, 7 February 1912, Page 5

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

NEXT WEEK'S PROCEEDINGS. The opening of Parliamentt on Thursday week will (says the Post) be the most interesting meeting of the Legislature for the"past twenyone years. The Government and Op- ( position being about equal in i strength, and the balance of power I being, held by a small number c!: In-1 dependents and Labour members, the, test division,- which will decide -the j Premiership, will be awaited with keen interest throughout the country. Parliament will be opened in the Legislative Council by Commission on Thursday ,15th inst., at 2.30 p.m. Members of the House of Representatives will then return to their Chamber, and the Clerk (Mr H. Otter son) will read tHe commission authorising hdm to administer the oath to members; which being done, and [members having subscribed the oath, [the Bouse will proceed to elect its I Speaker. ' His Excellency the Governor will • deliver his opening Speech at 2.30 p.m. on Friday, the 16th inst. The Governor will he escorted from Government House to the Parliamentary Buildings by the Wellington squadron of the Sixth Regiment. The Permanent Artillery will form the guard "of honour, and will fire the i usual salute.

The Speech ,wili, it is anticipated, 'be a short &ne, simjply announcing tiidt the General Election having taken place, His Excellency's advisers deem it necessary that having regard to the uncertainty of the striengtih of parties, Parliament should be called together at th# earliest possible momeHir - ' . ' Formal business will tli€njb© taken in both Houses, and notice 6i~ fin Address-in-JEteply to the Governors Speech will b given by a member of the Government party. Mr Massey, Leader of the Opposition, will then, it is expected, give notice of an amendment to j add the following words to the Address-in-Re<ply:— "In conclusion, we deem it our duty to represent to your Excellency that your. Excellency!s advisers do not possess v t<he confidence of this Hbuse." ' .... The House will tlien 'ndjourii till the following Tu e«! a;•. • r 'v: 1)en; the de--bate on the no-confidence- motion will begin. It is hot . expected that the de-bate will be a long one, and will probably be, lura'trd to fie .two leaders. and to the Independents and Labour members, who wiJ] . naturally wish to explain the reasons for the way in which thev will cast their votes. • .

IN THE EVENT OF DEFEAT. Jf the Government defeat the noconfidence motion, Parliament will be prorogued till the usual time of meeting at th end of June. In the event of Mr MnsseyV amendment being carried, tlie resignation of the Government will follow. Mr Massey will be "seiit for" by the Governor, and if he succeeds in forming a Government they will' meet the House and Parliament will be, prorogued till June, to enable the new Ministry to prepare their policy.