THE SESSION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 631, 7 October 1909, Page 7

THE SESSION.

OPENING CEREMONY TO-DAY. ARRIVAL OF MEMBERS. TWO WHIPS TO BE APPOINTED. What will bo officially known as tho second session of the seventeenth Parliament of New Zealand will be opened this afternoon. 1 Under escort of a dctachment of thoYHeretaunga Mounted Rifles, his Excellency the Governor (Lord Plunket) will drive from tho vico-rogal rctidenco iti Molesworth Street to Parliament House, where the ceremony will take plaoe in the Legislative Council Chamber' at 2.30 o'clock. In connection with the eyent, tbo Royal Now Zealand Artillery'will provide the gnard of honour, whilst tho Garrison Band and a naval detachment from H.M.S.r Prometheus will also be'in attendance,''dnd a Royal salute will be fijed from the Esplanade Saint-, lng Battery.' " ■ 'v Already a fair-proportion of membere of both Houses have' taken- up their residence here. ; Among thoso who arrived yesterday were the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Hon.A. R. Guinness) and the Leader of tho Opposition (Mr. W. F. Mossoy), whilst the passcngorß by the Main Trunk express included the Hon. Seymour Thorno George, M.L.C., aud Messrs. Mander, Bollard, Greenslado, E. H. Taylor, Newman, Buick, aiid Guthrie, M.P.'e. Upon the assumption that tho debate on the Ad-dress-ifl-Reply may not bo gone oii with until next-week, numbers of members hive delayed their arrival for. a few days. The first business after his Excellency has delivered his speeoh will bo the passing by, both Houses of resolutions of sympathy with tho relatives of the late Mr. A. E.; Remington, member for Kangitikei. Both' Houses will then adjourn as . a mark of respect to, the memory of the deoeaSed, but it was ntit definitely known yesterdav when members would bo asked .to reassemble, As the Govemmfcnt" has; declared ..that, ; it is anxious 1 tho business should bo expedited as much'as possible, it is": not unlikely that the House, will :m6et aeaih in the evening. One of tho first: matters which the House isill be called Upon to do. is to pass an Imprest Supply Bjll. IThiV measure may,, however, ,not be brought down immediately, as there is stated to .bo .not so' mnoh Urcencv in tho matter, as if the end of. the month vrero' close at hand. \ -y -.v. ■

Several: Parliamentary positions . nrd '.ifacSht" a «-.t'fflo. -First of all. there is tits' oliiee of Chairman of Committees for; the Leelslativo Council. Then each palrty, requires to appoint another Whip.For the present, Mr. Jjaut-ctison. is'the only. Government Whip ' arid Mr. Hardy tho only Opposition Whip, Speculation .is; rife as to whether the Government .will fill. the. vacancy to the Ministry caused through the retirement of Mr. A. V}. St ? n us aally. wtll-inforiricd circles, tho apnoiiifed another Ifmister will bo .ift, T '' ?• 1 ?•!&»> jM.P.,''s in' indifferent nealtli, _and hie- friends are trying 'to; nrevaii übon him not to, attend the. earlier davs ofthe session. ... • * ■ . >It is-, understood that tho Address ift-Roply will, m accordance .with, custom, bo moved by tho youngest in;tho;House ■ in• point of ~ pojitidal ■ orv '^ e ' ,; tr - Smith, who holds tho distinction. I V ? " the new. member for : Rangi. ivi'i i v bt ' cn ln P® o6 only a fortnight.' nf lT,mL a J ,p wn t Reared off tho lint 5????. Kcforin party; who was .among' ™tW passengers,; received 'a very warm L i, f /L om a , l " eo of.friends whbm paign during the recent election camInquiry;, among those members' who ''havit 2 - - tho ; - sossion,; shows i? th , el ?j aro pwpafed;to. sup""answienta made by -ho Primo. Minister at: tho Dofence ConiorcncG. i". i.;.- > .