Political Notes.

Waipukurau Press, Volume I, 29 June 1906, Page 2

Political Notes.

Parliament was formally opened yesterday. The Governor delivered a short syeech. The speech made feeling reference to the late Premier. His Excellency congratulated the Houses upon the continued progress and strength of the colony’s financial position, and also upon the substantial progress made in its chief industries which is shown by the continued increase in the volume of exports. Inthetwo Houses speeches referring to the late Mr Seddon were made by the Attorney-General and the Premier. Mr Massey promised the Premier the utmost support in his power. Mr Hall-Jones thanked him on behalf of the Government.

One of the most important questions that the new Cabinet will have to face is the appointment of Legislative Councillors. The Hons, J. T. Peacock (Canterbury), C. W. Kenny (Marlborough), D. Pinkerton (Otago), and 11. K. Taiaroa (Otago), are dead ; Messrs Lee Smith and Twomi-j, whose tenure of office expired last year, have not had their places filled ; and the term of the Hons. F. H. Fraser (Wellington) and H. Gourley (Otago), has just come to an end. The place left by the late Henare Tomoana (Hawke’s Bay) also remains vacant. The following will retire by effluxion of time before the end of the yq^.r —Hons. IL Feld wick, W- M. Bolt, T. Kelly, and W. Montgomery. Thus a large number of appointments require to be made in the immediate future, if the Council is to be brought up to anything like its. real strength.

It is appropriate to recall at thia juncture the eulogy pronounced in the House by Mr Seddon on June 22nd, 1893, of his late chief Mr Ballance, for they so eminently fit the occasion of his own death. “ Our late Premier,” said Mr Seddon, “ will never hear, he cannot know, but if ever there was a wish fully gratified and met, it is in the manner in which his loss- has been felt — the manner in which his memory has been so far, and, I believe, will be for all time, respected by the people of this country. Yes, sir, as the sprigs of acacia that were thrown into his grave by the hands of his loving and faithful Ai asonic brethren, so, I feel sure, will the memory of John Ballance be kept green in the hearts of the people of New Zealand, and more particularly those who were more closely associated with him as. members of the General Assembly.”

Members have not made up. their minds for any business. They recognise that the assembling of Parliament is an exceptionally mournful one on this occasion, and they will readily fall in with the wishes of the Premier to prorogue after Supply has been granted.— N.Z. Times.

The question of a grant to Mrs Seddon is causing a great deal of lobby talk. It has been informally discussed amongst the Ministerial party. One suggestion is to give Mrs Seddon £15,000 and the Ministerial residence in Moles-worth-street, which, with the land and furniture, must be worth another £15,000. Another proposition is to give her £lOOO a year for life ; and a third proposal goea in the direction of a grant of £lO,OOO, to be invested with the Public Trustee, the proceeds going to Mrs Seddon during her lifetime, and the amount being divided amongst the family after her death.

Out of a House of eighty all but ten were present on Wednesday. The rearrangement of the seats has. given a new aspect to the interior of the popular Chamber, for most of the seats have undergone a, change. Amongst the “ old familiars ” one missed Sir William Russell, Messrs Duthie, W. Buchanan, Lang, Taylor, Herdman and others.. It is computed that twenty-five-members on an average usually lose their seats. On this occasion there are fifteen members who did not sit in the previous Parliament, though three of the fifteen have sat in former Parliaments.

The changes in political life are rapid. Harking back to the short, session of Parliament held in April,, 1897, only nine years ago, it will be’found that no fewer than fortytwo members who sat in the House that year have since been left out in the cold, and thirteen of them are dead. Going back to the session of 1890, when the Liberal party took over the reins of Government, it is noteworthy that only members left of that Parliament and occupying seats in the House at the present time are the Hon W. Hall-Jones (now Premier), Sir Joseph Ward, Hon James Carroll, Hon T. Y. Duncan, Hon C. HMills (Ministers), Mr Guinness, Sir W. J. Steward, Messrs Hogg, T Lawry, T. Mackenzie, Parata, E. M. Smith, and W. Tanner. Out of the whole number who formed that Parliament, seventeen have passed away. *•