PARLIAMENT OPENS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1926, Page 7

PARLIAMENT OPENS.

A COLOURFUL SCENE.

HOUSE SOON BUSY,

QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS.

(By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.")

WELLINGTON, Thursday.

A cloud-flecked blue sky, a chill wind, and bright sunshine, were conditions under which the first session of New Zealand's twenty-second Parliament was officially opened this afternoon. The unexpected and unavoidable absence of the Governor-General, owing to an acuta attack of lumbago, robbed the occasion of much of its spectacular aspect. There was no salute of guns, but a guard of honour of 100 Wellington College Cadets accompanied by the band of the First Battalion of the Wellington Regimentcommanded by Captain Renner, gave tha salute. After the Minister of Defence., the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, had inspected the guard, there was a procession to the Legislative Council Chamber headed by the Seargeant at Arms, Major Brown, in evening dress bearing the mace. Thp' chamber presented a colourful scene, tha galleries being crowded, mostly by fashionably-dressed ladies. When aB were seated the Speaker (Hon. C. E. Statham), in wig and the black robes of office, took his place in the chair at the end of the entrance aisle, the Sergeant at Arms and the Clerk of the House of Representatives standing behind.

The Speaker of the Upper House, Sir Walter Carncross, acting under Governor's warrant, read the speech from the throne. Members of the Lcgislativa Council, in evening dress, many of their wearing decorations, occupied the plush seats, while a number of ladies sat near "the throne." At the rear sat the Premier, with Mr. H. E. Hollami Leader of the Opposition), Mr. G. W. Forbes (Nationalist Leader), and Ministers of the Crown, the more shadowy seats near the door being allotted tc the remainder of the House of Representatives. Getting to Business. No time was lost by members ir returning to their own chamber at t'hr conclusion of the speech, when the Hon, J. G. Coates announced that business up to and inclusive of notices of motiot would be taken before the adjournmentA number of petitions were presented, including a hoary one by Timothj Moriarty, which made members chuckia. A bombardment of questions followed, tlie most important o which related tc unemployment. There was anothei laugh when Mr. Atmore asked if tin' Minister of Railways contemplated providing a stock loading bank at Nclsot railway station. The House adjourned till Friday afternoon, when condolence motions will be moved and announcements made regarding business. The Address-in-Reply. Mr. Tapley has given notice of his intention to move the Address-in-Reply j and Mr. Holland to move a no-conlidenee amendment.