Parliamentary.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 224, 3 July 1902, Page 3

Parliamentary.

Wellington, July 1

The third and last session of the fourteenth Parliament was opened this afternoon with the usual ceremony. The weather was all that could be desired and there was a large attendance of the public both inside and outside Parliament Buildings. The Governor arrived at the Legislative Council Chambers at 2.30 p.m., the Heretaunga Mounted Rifles furnishing the escort, the Wellington College Cadets a guard of honour, while the D Battery fired a salute. His Excellency was accompanied by Captain Alexander. Captain Rich (of H.M.S. Bingaroomaj, General Babington and Captain Campbell. Lady Ranfurly, Lady Constance Knox, Lady Eileen Knox, Lady Ward and Mbs Ward occupied seats alongside the' Speaker’s chair, and opposite to them the Foreign Consuls were grouped. There was a large muster of members of the Lower House but the attendance of Legislative Councillors was small. The Governor’s speech was much shorter than usual and only occupied twelve minutes in delivery.

The speech dealt th the events that have ranspired oiuc.- la-t session. The epaecli to the House of Repre seutatives showed that “Notwithstanding many heavy and unus 1a! items of nonrecurring expenditure,, and the large concessions raa ie to the public in railway charges, Customs dot es, and postage rales, the result of the year’s operations has been satisfactory. The revenue has kept up, and a substantial balance stood to the credit of the colony at the end of the financial year. Estimates for the year, prepared with the strictest economyconsistent with efficiency, will in the ordinary course be placed before you._ Measures will be submitted dealing with the electoral laws so as to bring them more in tench wilh the existing circumstances of the colony. They will include the Referendum Bill, which was passed last session by one branch of the legislature. A Bill providing for (State fire insurance will also be introduced. Some necessary amendments in the Lin I ‘ Act, including proposals for rebites to Crown tenants, will likewise be sub ■mi tied. You will also be asked ti consider a measure miking provision for the aged and retired officers of .th< railway service- The labour legislation is working with reasonable smoothness, considering tile oomp'ex interests in voh-ed, but soms amendments <>f a detailed nature may be necessary. Un ler the Act of last session a State c ml mine has been purchased, and my Minister.; hope it will soon be in work ng order. The Point Elizabeth Rdhviy and Co d Company his been acquired in connect'd : *t. l t ie opinion of my AdvisPps, the question of preventing combinations by which the prices of food supplies are improperly raised to the consumers is of import in e, and should b'| .sidered. You will be asked to make provision for the import ant work of prosecuting the trunk lines of railway, as well as of carrying on other lines main coarse c* construction. Difficulties have aids n i i applying the Military / msions Act 1 1 South African service, n. id sever,il ciso>. of an i.mated hardship have occurred, which, in tin opinion f my Minis'ors, should be provide I for by an amending me.i-su e The t.im'v industry is active, but to ensure itpermauen -y farther provision should he made for tree-felling and forest consm-v.i tion Further provision is equally necessary for the reading of the lands to open iij tp ik blocks and assist settlement. Sever d i states have been acquired under tip Lin 1 for Se dements Acts, and are being s aisfactnrily disposed id, iu d it is the unanimous desire of my Alvisers to do all in their 1 power to mike settlement a success. Proposals on the,e subjects will ho | submitted to you, and in addition y u j will bo ask id to deal with a measure j relating to mi dug mitters, the public | health, the protection of young person;, j company law, aud other subjects affecting | the s >cinl and indust ini wolf ire of the j community. 1 i THE HOUSE OF KEIHIESENTA- ' TIVEY I The House assembled after hearing j the Speech. THE KINO’S lI,'.NESS.

Sir J. G. Ward moved, Sir William Russell seconded and it was carried “ That before entering on the ordinary business of the session this Home desires to express its deep sorrow for His Majesty the King’s illness, and its hop n that he may speedily be restored to health ; and that an address be presented to the Governor requesting him to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for submission to His Majesty. Sir William Russell was congratulated on the honour conferred on him and in reply said that if a man might flatter himself on any occasion, it was that the honour he had received had met the approbation of the people among whom he had lived for the last forty years.

Sir J. G. Ward referred to the death of Mr Arthur Morrison and Mr Shvimski, and moved that the House adjourn till 3 p.m. on Wednesday as a mark of respect to their memory. This was agreed to and the House rose at 3.10 p.m.