PARLIAMENT SESSION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20636, 11 December 1941, Page 9

PARLIAMENT SESSION

CHANGE IN PROCEDURE SHORT SITTING LIKELY (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Although details have to be finalised, inquiries this morning indicated that the ceremonial opening of the new session of Parliament tomorrow, called for the special purpose of considering the war situation,, is likely to be modified in some respects. The Governor-General, Sir Cyril Ncwall, will be attended by the usual escort representing the three fighting services and Her Excellency will not be present. Another departure from the customary procedure will be that ladies will not be provided with seats on the floor of the Legislative Council Chamber. The wives of the Speakers, the wife of the Prime Minister, exPrime Minister’s wives and the wives of Ministers will be seated in the galleries. The Prime Minister has already indicated that the sitting should not last beyond Friday of this week, and this view is supported in Opposition circles. It is also understood His Excellency’s speech from the Throne is likely to be brief. In the ordinary course, the House of Representatives would move an address-in-reply to His Excellency’s message, but the usual long debate is certainly not contemplated, and it is quite possible I that the motion may be deferred ' until the session is resumed later.