Sir Chas. Statham Elected Speaker

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 February 1932, Page 2

Sir Chas. Statham Elected Speaker

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

WELLINGTON, Last Night

The first session of the twenty-fourth New Zealand Parliament was formally opened at 2.30 this afternoon. - There was a brief ceremony in the Legislative Council Chamber when letters patent of the Commission appointed to initiate proceedings was xead> the Commission consisting of Hon. Sir Walter Carncross (Speaker Legislative Council), Hon. Sir James Parr, Hon. E. Masters, Et. Hon. Sir P. Bell, Hon Sir Thos. Sidey. Adjourning to the Lower Chamber, members were sworn in by the clerk of the House of Representatives. The new House includes only eleven members who were not in the previous Parliament' Mr. J. A. Macpherson moved that Hon. Sir C. E. Statham be' appointed Speaker. The motion was seconded by Mr. G. E. Sykes and adopted unanimously. Mr. Macpherson referred to the high standard maintained by successive Speakers, including Sir Chas. Statham who had held office since 1923, and said that when one took this into consideration, it was not surprising that the New Zealand House of Eepresentatives stood probably second to none in the Empire for decorum and good behaviour. Mr. Sykes said Sir Chas. Statham *s capabilities had been so tested and proven, that it was not necessary to elaborate on his qualifications.

After the Speaker had taken the chair, Hon. G. W. Forbes, as Leader of the House, congratulated Sir Chas. Statham on his appointment' and said it,was a matter of pride that the New Zealand Parliament was able to stand comparison with any other legislature in the world. He assured Sir Chas. Statham the session would supply him with plenty of employment as there would be a constant succession of business and he believed a constant succession of speeches. Mr. H. E. on behalf of the' Opposition, added congratulations, and said Sir Chas. Statham’s unfailing courtesy and undeviating impartiality had always been appreciated by the Labour Patry which shared the pride in the fact that New Zealand’s House of Representatives compared- more than favourably with almost any Parliament in the world. '

Sir, Chas. Statham, replying to the speeches, recalled his entry to Parliament as a new member twenty years ago. There were now only ten members of that House in the present Parliament, Hon. Ngata being the father of the House, and Hon. Forbes the next oldest member. Sir Chas. Statham expressed appreciation and a high sense of the honour conferred upon him. The House rose at 3.30 till 2.30 to-morrow afternoon, when the speech from the Throne will be delivered by the Gdvernor-General.

INCREASE IN WAGEb TAX SPOKEN OP.

The session now commencing is essentially one of making financial adjustments, particularly in the direction ol pruning the national expenditure to accord" with reduced revenue, and it is not expected that much legislation of a general nature will be introduced. There. is a growing-realisation that the unemployment legislation passed last year is not sufficient to furnish the .Government with th ample resources it will need to finance its broader relief proposals, which the Bight Hon. J. G. Coates recently announced would be on more coinprehen-

sive lines than has been attempted hitherto.

Eumour has it that the existing wage tax of 3d in the £ is likely to ..e largely increased, and it is being said that an increase 'to Is in the £ is contemplated, but whatever proposals the Minister may have in mind, it can be definitely stated that no decision in the matter has yet been made by Cabinet. it is expected, if the tax is increased, that the present scheme will bo amended to allow a wider margin of exemption to those receiving wages and salary on the smaller scale, and to give relief to those who arc already taxed to breaking point. There is a suggestion current that should the tax be increased to Is in the £—the eq- ivalcnt of a 3 per cent, cut —the possibility or a further wages cut will largely disappear.

No indication has been given as to the Government’s intentions with respect to the date of the ordinary winter session of Parliament, but the approach of the Empire Economic Conference at Ottawa is probably largely responsible for suggestions heard in the lobbies that the main working session, which usually opens in the last week in June, will be delayed. Cabinet has not yet considered the question of representation at Ottawa, but the tion. W. Downie Stewart, as the administrator of the Finance and Customs portfolios, must naturally be he choice. The necessity for the keenest financial scrutiny of all legislative proposals gives ground, apparently, for the belief that in the absence abroad of the Finance Minister, the work of Parliament should be deferred.