PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10561, 17 February 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

FIRST BUSINESS DAY THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) , WELLINGTON, Last Night. The practical opening of Parliament took place at 2.30 to-day, when His Excellency the Governor delivered his Speech to members of both branches of the Legislature in the Council Chamber.

His Excellency, who .was attended by his A ides-de-Camp, and accompanied by the Commandant of the Forces and Staff-Officers, was saluted by a guard of honour as he arrived in Parliament grounds, and he immediately proceeded to the Council Chamber, which was thronged in every available space with eajjjer spectators, anxious to know the contents of the Speech. The whole ceremony was one of unusual interest.

As soon as members of tlie House, headed by Speaker Guinness, were marshalled on to the floor of the Council ' Chamber, His Excellency read, in clear tones, tlie Speech placed in his. hands by the Hon. J. McGowan,, Leader of the Council. The reading occupied nearly 25 minutes, and was a surprise to many, who expected only a brief mention of the causes which had necessitated an early assembly of the Legislature. IN THE COUNCIL. After the Speech, members of the House retired to their own Chamber, and later the Council met, the Hon. Mr Qillan having given notice -to move the A del ress-i n-Reply, it adjourned until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

IX THE HOUSE. Members of tlie House assembled at 2.30, having returned to their own Chamber after listening to the Speech in the Council. Mr Reid (member for Bay -of Islands) gave notice to move the Address-in-Reply. Mr Massey notified that he would make an amendment thereto. THE FIVE MILLION LOAN. Sir Joseph Ward read a communication from the High Commissioner, showing the details of the cost of raising the five million loan. In doing so, he said that notwithstanding the fact that lie had informed the House last session that he was not in possession of the figures, it had since been repeatedly asserted that he was keeping details back. It had been asserted in different parts of the country that the cost of the loan, was in the region of £350,000, the statement also implying the basest innuendoes and insinuations, Sir Joseph then read the letter In question, which he said reached Wellington on the 16th of January this year. The figures showed the expanses in connection with raising the loan to be £111,816 4s 9d, and Sir Joseph stated that the net return was' £96 6s per £IOO. Mr Massey said he did not think the return contained the whole of those charges which should be rightly debited against the loan, and: in particular he referred to the special provision governing conversion.

iMr Herries said the original estimate of the net return of a .loan ; .was very much greater than was now given.

Sir Joseph Ward said he wanted to see the gentlemen opposite on the; Treasury benches, handling the,loans. They would make a "holy mess'.of'it" if ever they got ■ the cliance to operate. It would make a bronze statue blush to hear of all the things they were going to do. Now that he had given all the details in connection with the loan, the Opposition was not satisfied. He would take the opportunity later to disclose all the infonmation in the pigeon holes, and show the people what a public man had -to put up with. For attempting t6 pull down public life, he had never seen anything like the tactics of the Opposition. He would make the prediction that the Opposition would not raise a loan so sueeesafnlly as he had the five million one. A LOST PACKET. .Sir Joseph then moved that tlje Clerk of the House, in the presence of Messrs Eraser.and Reed, be authorised to open the parcel of the Grey Lynn electoral rolls, as the Returning Officer had inadvertently enclosed his marked office, copy of the roll. This was carried. EXPIRING LAWS. ; Sir Joseph Ward moved the first reading of the. Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, pro forma . ' LATE MR POLLEN. The Prime Minister moved that the House place on record the high appreciation of the services rendered the country by the late Mr Hugh Pollen, Under Secretary for Internal Affairs. Mr Massey seconded the resolution, which was carried. COLONEL PORTER. A letter was read from- Colonel Porter, expressing appreciation of the resolution passed by the House lastsession in connection with the teer services. NOTICE OF BILLS.

if mm iimnu,uanjii ■■"in) i—mi imp" i—i ■' Mr Fisher gave nonce to introduce the Sunday Labour Bill, Proportional Representation Bill, and Legislature Amendment Bill. iSir Joseph Ward goive notice to introduce on Tuesday the Local Government Bill and Legislature Amendment Bill. The House adjourned at 3.35 p.m. until 2.30 on Tuesday.