A RIGHT ASSERTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 151, 28 June 1929, Page 3

A RIGHT ASSERTED.

PARLIAMENT'S LITTLE FORMALITY. BILL WHICH ..NEVER PASSES. x (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Formalities are so stereotyped in connection ivith the opening of Parliament that many significant points pass without notice, but throughout the ceremonial are reminders of former struggles between King and Commons for the privilege of legislating and complete control over the Exchequer. Fortunately the reality of these disputes i-s so remote that there is r.o necessity for the House of Representatives to actively assert its privileges. However, though little more than routine nowadays, there persists in official records the necessary safeguards. The opening business of the session is to renew monetary supplies, arid this has to be one at Friday's sitting. Legislation does not commence until both branches of the legislature have passed a respectful nddrcss-in-reply to his Excellency's Speech from the Throne, but before either of these duties is undertaken Sir Joseph Ward, as Leader of the House, moves the first reading of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill. He did so to-day, pro forma, and will not be perturbed at the fact that it disappears from the Order Paper. No vigilant member of the Opposition will inquire what has become of the first Government bill, because everyone knows it never gets beyond the pro forma stage, and cannot be found on the Statute Book. It is only an assertion of Parliament's right to legislate, carefully recorded, before proceeding to deal with many matters recommended for attention in the Speech from the Throne.