LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 286, 30 August 1935, Page 8

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Two Seats Become Vacant

Twenty members of the Legislative Council met at 3.15 p.in. and dealt quickly with some formal business. A message from his Majesty the King acknowledging the loyal resolution of the Council was read by the Speaker, Hon. Sir Walter Carncross. On the motion of the Leader, Hon. R. Masters, It was resolved to record the King’s most, gracious reply in the journals.

One month’s leave of absence was granted to the lion. Mark Fagan, a delegate to the Empire Parliamentary Association’s Conference in London, who is still away.' Fourteen days’ leave was granted lo the Hon. W. Stevenson (Invercargill) on account of illness. A message was received from the Governor-General announcing that owing to the effluxion of time, the seats of the Hon. J. MacGregor (Dunedin) and the Hon. R. Moore (Canterbury) had become vacant.

The Hon. J. "McLeod (Taranaki) gave notice that, next Thursday, he would move the Address-in-Reply. The Hon. R. McCallum (Marlborough) gave notice of his intention to introduce the Adininisbratibn Act Amendment Bill, the object of which is to bring up to date the provisions of the Act relating t>o the disposal of estates insofar as they affect bachelors dying and leaving only mothers, sisters and brothers. The Council adjourned till 2.30 p.m. next Wednesday.

MINOR DEMONSTRATION

A diversion at the opening of Parliament was provided by two men who climbed the Seddou statue and began to address the crowd after Lord Galway bad finished his inspection of the guard of 'honour outside Parliament Buildings. Two plain-clothes and one uniformed policemen also mounted the monument before the two speakers had gone veryfar with their remarks and pushed them to the ground after some wrestling on the ledge at the top of the stonework on which the figure rests. The demonstrators were taken in charge and departed in an official car under the charge of an escort, amid soiiio cheering from a small band of their faithful followers.

OPENING CEREMONIAL

During the preliminary ceremony at the opening of Parliament yesterday by the Governor-General, her Excellency was received at the main steps by the acting-clerk of the Legislative Council, Mr. H. L. de la Perrelle, and escorted to the Legislative Council Chamber, where she received a handsome bouquet of spring Howers from the veteran Speaker of the Council, the Hon. Sir Walter Carncross. Within the Chamber chairs were provided for the wives of Ministers of the Crown. There were in attendance on his Excellency his own staff officers, Major A. F. Purvis, M.C., Scots Guards, Military Secretary, and Captain A. G W Heber-Percy, Grenadier Guards, A.D.C. Lieutenant Sir Standish O’Grady Roche, R.N., attended her Excellency. The Governor-General on his way to the Legislative Council Chamber was preceded by the following officers: The General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, MajorGeneral Sir William Sinclair-Burgess, K. C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., N.Z.S.C., and the Senior Naval Officer, Captain L. V. Morgan, M.V.0., D.S.Q., R.N., A.D.C. Others in the procession were Colonel F. Symon, C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., R.N.Z.A., A.D.C. to the King; Paymaster-Commander E. L. Tottenham, R.N.; Colonel I. T: Standish, C. D. 5.0., R.N.Z.A., A.D.C.; Colonel A. S. Wilder, D. 5.0., M.C., A.D.C.; Lient.-Colonel E. Puttick, D. N.Z.S.C.: Lient.-Colonel J. L. Saunders, D. 5.0.. V.D.; Wing Commander T. M. Wilkes, M.C., R.N.Z.A.F., A.D.C.; and Lleut.-Colonel O. 11. Mead. D. 5.0., N.Z.S.C. The Wellington Artillery Band took part in the ceremony.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Parliamentary Press Gallery yesterday afternoon, Mr. T. F. Reilly (•‘The Dominion”) was appointed chairman, and Mr, C. G. Noble-Camp-bell (“Evening Post”) vice-chairman.

An inquiry whether the question of immigration had been discussed during the recent visit of the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Finance, to the United Kingdom was made in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by Mr. F. Jones (Lab., Dunedin South), lie gave notice to ask the Prime Minister whether it was the Intention of the Government to provide assistance for immigrants.