UNION PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 108, 9 May 1896, Page 5

UNION PARLIAMENT.

The opening meetinp of the fifth session of the Auckland Union Parliament was held last evening in <*• Lecture Hall of the V.M.C.A. There was a very large attendance of the general public including several dory, who hava been attending the Church Congress. • . The new ministry was briefly introduced, by Mr Shackelforci and is constituted as follows:— Mr J. W, Shackelford, Premier, Lands and Agriculture ; Mr R. J. Dunne, Attorney-General and Colonial Secretary; Mr A. T. Ngata, M.A., Native Minister and Minister of Justice; Mr R. K-eid, Minister of Public Works and Labour ; Mr R. H. McCallum, Poßtmaatar-Genoral, Mince and Marine. The office of Colonial Treasurer and Minister of Educatian is ab prossnb vacant. Tho Ministry intend to amend the Licensing Act so aa to provide for national prohibition and, Government control; to introduce a scheme for old age pensions: to introduce a Bill to extend the municipal franchise to every householder; and to amend tho Gambling, Native, Edu-. carton, and Defence Acts. Tba Hon. J. A. Tole was re-elected unopposed aa Speaker of the House and Mr R. H. Fishor as clerk. Tho Governor (Mr C. E. Button, M.H.R.) read the speech forecasting tb« .Ministerial policy. The Speaker, in returning thanks for his election, made aome valuable suggestions as to tho future conduct of the Parliament; atnohgßb others, proposing that tho range of subjects might bo considerably increased, and that such questions as "V The Transvaal Crieia," " Home Rule," and Imperial politics genorally might well be included in the list of questions discussed. The suggestion was warmly approved of, and will, no doubt, be adopted by the members. The. eddraßs-in-reply was moved by Mr M. A. Carr, and seconded by Mr J. T. Millington ; and the Governmenb policy was supported by Meßsra Shackelford, R. Reid, R. H. McCallum, R. Dunne, and the speakers for tho Opposition were Messrs P. K. Dix, A. Withy, G. Fowlds, T. M. Harmon. F. G. Ewington. The address-in-reply • was carried on the voices, and bhe Houso adjourned. The question of " old age pensions " will be discussed next night of meeting.