CHANGES IN THE HOUSE

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14404, 11 July 1912, Page 8

CHANGES IN THE HOUSE

RKCEPTION OF NEW CABINET

SOME UNUSUAL INCIDENTS

(special to "the press.")

WELLINGTON, July 10

It was a changed House that met tho view of habitues of Parliament this afternoon. Thero was a complete ohango round. the first for some twenty-one years. Events had marched rapidly. Mr Massey did not want the time tho stop-gap Ministry needed to form an administration; he asked for ono day, and in orto day he nipt the House with his Cabinet formed and ready to carry on the administration of tho country. Neither is lie afraid to meet Parliameut. He asked for only three weeks' time, and on Wednesday, the 31st July, ho will meet Parliament again.

Most of tho new Ministers attended at Government House in the morning, and wore sworn in. In a very brief space of timo Mr Massey was holding his first Cabinet meeting.

When, the House met there was a full attendance of members, Messrs Millar and Herries apparently being the only absentees. The galleries also wero crowded, and many of the public could not get in. Mr Massey was in Sir Joseph Ward's old seat, with Mr James Allen beside him. On his left was Mr AA T . Eraser, who will probably have as his bench mate Mr Herries. Mr Fisher and Mr Rhodes wero in tho bench behind, and Mr Herdman and Dr. Pomare in tho bench behind Mr Massey, and Mr Allen.

Across tho floor on the left of tho Speaker were grouped what will now bo tho Opposition. Tho principal interest centred in the occupancy of the front benches. The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie was in the formerly occupied by Mr Massey, with Mr G. W. Russell beside him. In the adjacent bench wero Mr Myers and Sir Joseph Ward. The other ex-Ministers occupied seats immediately behind.

The proceedings in the Houso -were somewhat more protracted than was anticipated, and somo of tho speeches delivered on the side of the new Opposition were tinneccssarily long,-and tinged with bitterness. they were in anything but good taste on such an occasion. A most unusual incident also occurred towards the end of tho sitting, when, ia reply.to a question and a statement by Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Myers, the «j_-Ministor of Finance, endeavoured to, \ftj on the tablo of the House and havo printed a voluminous document regarding the audit system. The Speaker gnvo him a mild hint that it was unusual for a private member to lay on the table a public document, but Mr Myers persisted, and the Hon. j James Allen, who was -iv a j rather ' awkward position, did I not like to object. He, how- | ■ever, asked that the document should j not bo printed until he had an opportunity of perusing it. It then transpired that tho ex-Minister of Finance had not even done him the courtesy of informing him of his intention, and that tho discussion that had taken place was the first ho had henrd of it. It was resolved that the document be laid.on tho table.

Mi- Russell, another ex-Minister, then •wished to lay another document on the table. jHo explained that it consisted of two printed sample sheets of the previous ' document. Mr Malcolm uttered a protest against such action on the part, of ex-Ministers. However, no further objection was made, and tho two printed sheets were also laid On tho table.