PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10684, 11 July 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(By Telegraph — Press Association./

WELLINGTON, Last Night.. The Legislative Council met at 2.3 ft p.m.

CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES.

Tli.3 Hon W. F. Uarncross, who was absent on urgent private business, was re-elected Chairman of Committees, and was congratulated by tho Hon. 0. Samuel, Leader of tiie Council, and tho Hon. C. H. Mills. '

THE NEW LEADER

The Hon. 0. Samuel then explainer? the situation which had arisen in connection with the Mackenzie Adminis•tratica and its retirement. He /read a list of tho members of the new Cabinet, including Francis Henry Dillon Bell, who had been appointed Leader of the Council, with the portfolio of Minister of Internal Affairs. The Hon. F. H. D. Bell was then Introduced, and took the oath and his. seat as leader of the Council.

The Hon. 0. Samuel, having retiredf from the Leadership, offered his-, heartiest congratulations to the Hon.. Mr Bell, and in doing so said he was not only voicing his own views, but; he believed those of the Council generally. He referred to the new Leader's standing at the Bar as. a barrister, and to his political associations, and expressed the belief that he would uphold in his worthiest manner the dignity of the Council and its traditions.

The Hon. 0. Samuel was followed by the Hons. Jones, Loughnan, Rigg, Callan, Luke, Jenkinson, and Parata, all of whom offered their congratulations.

The Hon.-Mr Bell, with 'manifest feeling, briefly replied to the congratulations. He expressed his gratitude to those Hon. members who had said so many complimentary things regarding him, and he said he would dolus best to conduct the affairs of the Council in a way that would maintainr its dignity-. He incidentally mention-, ed that he was now occupying the' position that was occupied by his father in the first Parliament after the-' adoption of the Constitution Act. Hethanked the Council most sincerely for its congratulations, and moved that the Council, at its rising, adjourn till 7.30 p.m., when he would make a statement concerning the adjournment necessary to allow the Now Zealand Government to arrange its business. The Council then rose.

The Council resumed at 7.30, and adjourned until July 31st.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESV

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. , ' The'.now Ministry occupied-the Treasury benches. The Privileges Committee in connection with the Wairau case was granted' an extension of time to August 7th, ia ordef to allow of the presentation of its report.