SESSION MAY BE LATE

Evening Star, Issue 18173, 13 January 1923, Page 2

SESSION MAY BE LATE

AWAITING ELECTION PETITION RESULTS.

PRIME MINISTER ASSUMES MR LEE'S PORTFOLIOS.

Asked whether tho dale for the opening of Parliament had yet been definitely decided upon, Mr Massey replied: “No; wo must await tho results of three or tour election petitions before wo can fix tho dates.”

Three Cabinet Ministers—The Hon. G. J. Parr (Eden), the Hon. H. P. Leo (Oamnru), and Sir Maui Pomaro {Western Maori) are concerned in the election petitions, Mr Lee as a petitioner, while the returns of Mr Parr and Sir Maui Pomarc are petitioned against.

It bad been understood that Parliament would probably meet on February 14 for a short session to try out tho strength of tho parties; but if the elections petitions are not decided before then it is likely that Parliament will be summoned l for a later date.

Tho Liberal Party leader, Mr T. M. Wilford, returned to Wellington from Rotorua yesterday afternoon. Replying to a question, Mr Wilford stated that the date for tho Liberal caucus meeting bad not yet been definitely settled, if the opening of Parliament wore held over because of tho election petitions, tho caucus might be correspondingly delayed. Ho had nothing to say about Hie political situation.

Tho resignation of the Hon. E. P. Leo has been forwarded to tho Governor-Gen-eral. Mr .Massey is taking the three portiolios concerned—Justice, "External Affairs, and Industries and Commerce—pending tho decision of tho election petition.