PARLIAMENT OPENS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20261, 31 May 1940, Page 9

PARLIAMENT OPENS

SOCIAL FEATURES ABSENT CEREMONIAL PARADE (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. Bright, wintry weather favoured the opening of Parliament this afternoon. The social aspect was discarded under the circumstances, no women being invited to the floor of the Legislative Council, though Minister’s wives found places in the gallery. Otherwise there was the usual excellent military parade in front of Parliament Building. In attendance on the GovernorGeneral, Viscount Galway, who arrived punctually at 2.30 were Commodore W. E. Parry, of the Navy, Major-General J. E. Duigan, commanding the New Zealand forces and other representatives of the services. The war legislation forecast by the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, being introduced to-day is a short measure extending the powers of the original War Emergency Act to authorise the Governor-General to issue Orders-in-Council requiring persons to place their services and their property at the disposal of His Majesty if deemed necessary for the prosecution of the war. The lines of the British Act are substantially followed. The Prime Minister also proposes to move a motion enabling Mr. Speaker to curtail the broadcasting of proceedings if necessary in the public interest, also to stop the broadcasting of committee proceedings on any bill if notified by agreement between the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition that such a course is desirable.

The war legislation will be taken to-day if tiie Opposition is agreeable.