SESSIONAL OUTLOOK

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 284, 28 August 1935, Page 10

SESSIONAL OUTLOOK

Opening of Parliament To-morrow KEEN PUBLIC INTEREST Features of Forthcoming Legislation There will be good light for legislators during the fifth session of the twenty-fourth Parliament of New Zealand, which will be opened to-morrow afternoon with traditional ceremony by the Governor-General, Lord Galway, to whom the proceedings will be novel. The globes of the thousand electric lamps throughout Parliament Buildings have been cleaned. Moreover, the environment generally will be brighter, providing some welcome evidence of the passing of severe depression. The legislative chambers and lobbies have been given "a rub over,” with here and there a coat of paint over tarnished walls, while all the orderlies have been attired in new uniforms, made of good New Zealand cloth and cut to order.

Already there have been signs of sessional activity, but up to yesterday few members from a distance had made their appearance. One of the earliest to arrive was the Hon. W. Downle Stewart, who is looking exceptionally well, and is keenly interested in the political situation. The public has shown a keen interest in the ceremonial opening of Parliament to-morrow. It looks as though the accommodation for visitors in the Legislative Council Chamber will be overtaxed. Ceremonial Opening. Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Galway will leave Government House at 2.15 p.m., proceeding to Parliament House by way of Cambridge Terrace, Jcrvois Quay, Ballance Street and Lambton Quay. An escort for his Excellency will be provided by the Police Department;- A salute of 19 guns will be tired by the Royal New Zealand Artillery as their Excellencies leave Government House. At Parliament House a guard of honour from the G.H.Q. Training Depot will be mounted. A Royal salute will be given, and the Wellington Artillery Band will play the first six bars of the National Anthem. His Excellency will inspect the guard of honour. The ceremony of opening Parliament will follow traditional lines. It is anticipated that his Excellency’s speech, which will be read in the Legislative Council Chamber, will be rather longer and more informative as to the Government’s policy than such speeches have been In recent years. In all probability, however, vital details of policy measures will be reserved for inclusion in the Budget, which is likely to be introduced without delay immediately after the conclusion of the Address-in-Reply debate.' What may be termed the historical features of the Budget have been prepared, and all that is now required are the main points of policy to be outlined by the Minister of Finance, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. Burden of Taxation. Although there is a firm demand outside Parliament for a substantial reduction of taxation, there is as yet no evidence within the Parliamentary precincts of any marked removal of irksome imposts. All the information available to inquirers is that the Government will do everything possible in its power to ease the burden' of taxation and thus make prosperity something more real than encouraging assertion. Everybody predicts a lively session of electioneering talk interspersed with many pointed questions. There promises to be ample scope for solid legislative work. Already over a dozen Bills are in sight, but most of these, it is true, will prove to be nothing more than amendments to existing and somewhat imperfect enactments. Housing and Social Insurance. As far as can be ascertained, there will be no legislative measures providing for an early introduction of practical schemes of national housing aud social insurance on a contributory basis. These important questions already have received exploratory attention‘abroad; for example, Mr. H. I. Forde, the Wellington journalist who accompanied the New Zealand Delegation to London as an economics and publicity secretary, made inquiries on behalf of the Government into social insurance as established in Sweden. But it is doubtful whether investigation has gone far enough to encourage anticipation of legislation to establish a similar scheme in this country in the immediate future. And so with housing. The best that most people in and about Parliament hope for is an indication that the Government intends to probe the question in New Zealand —a sort of pegging the ground. It is expected that the session will last until the end of October. That is the outlook at present, but if party candidates with no Parliamentary obligations begin an intense electioneering campaign during the session, members may become restive and precipitate an earlier close. In any case, Parliamentary politics should be interesting and possibly exciting. Thoughtful people in Wellington are giving special heed to the great responsibilltles of Parliament. The vicar, Canon Percival James, the churchwardens and vestry of St. Paul’s ProCathedral have extended to members of Parliament an invitation to attend a special service at the church on Sunday, September 1. at 11 * a.m. lhe special intention of this service is to implore the blessing of God upon Parliament and the people of New Zealand, and upon all who hold Pohßc office or take counsel for the welfare of the people.