PARLIAMENT.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2643, 28 August 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

The second session of the sixteenth Parliament was opened at 2.30 p.m on Tuesday last by the Governor. The day was fine and there was a large attendance of the public. His Excellency/read his speech, which took a quarter of »u hour. THK NEW MINISTRY. Sir J. G. Ward announced thu new Ministry to the House. He g*ve the detills of wh<tt had happened since his return to the colony—namely, the resignation of Mr Hail-Jones, the summons of his Exoellencj the Governor to himself, the consequent formation of the new Ministry, and the perg' nnel of the same. Mr Massey took this opportunity of congratulating the ueu Ministry ou its accession to office, and expressed a hope that the measures of its devising might be for the benefit of the country, and such as would obtain the support of his pirty and him>eif. The Premier thanked Mr Massey for his courtesy, and could only assure him that it would be the endeavour of his colleagues and himself to place before the House such measures as would benefit the coutitiy arid meet with general approval. He proceeded to r*ft r to the feeling of pain with which he had approached the task of vrecoustiucting toe Ministry. He referred to the long and honourable caieers of Messrs Mills aul Duncan, his late colleagues, testified to his respect for them, expressed his spprecia'iou of the pleasant time they had had together under their late chief, and exprei-el regret that circumatances beyond their control and his entirely had prevented their inclusion hi the new Cabinet. For that conclusion the responsibility was his, of course, and he accepted it in its entirety. The Speaker then read the following letter : " Wellington, August 20,1906.—The Hon, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Wellington.—Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge for myself and my family the .cop'esof ilia resolution passed unanimously bj the House of Representatives of its high sense of the devoted and distinguished services rendered to New Zetland aud the Kmpire by my husband, the late Prime Miuieter, and acknowledging the loss the colony has sustained by his death. We va'uo very highly indeed the resolution passed, and shall be pleased if you will convey to the members of the House of Representatives the sincere and heartfelt thanks of myself and family for the assurance of sympathy with us in our bereavement and irreparablo lo.<s.—l remain, yours sincerely, Louise J. Seddon," SALE OF FIREARMS. The Firearms Bill, which has been introduced by the Minister of Defence, makes it unlawful to sell or supply firt arms, or any kind of ammunition, to any person under the age of 16 years ; further, it shall not be lawful for auy pt.rson under the age of 16 years to use, cany, or have in hii possession any firearm or any land of ammuniti n. Every person who commits a breach of this act will be liaMe to a tine not exceeding £lO. Firearm is d< fined as a "gun or pistol of any description, whether aciii-g by the furce of gunpowder or not." Ti:e various kind of " toy" weapons will thus b-: subject to the operations ot the proposed au\ LEASEHOLDER v. FREEHOLDER " Whtt are you—a leaseholder or a freeholder?" interjected Mr Mas=ey ou Friday evening, when thn Minister ot Lands (Mr M'Nab) was speaking of the respective representation of freehold and leasehold in terests on the Lands Committ e. "The hon. member and the House," said Mr M'Nab, " will (, r et one solid hour from me on nothing else but the land question when the financial debate takes place, and I can promise that it will be tho first matter on the land question that Ins ever been put before the House. The hon. member will have quite enough on the first night, as I will do myself the honour of following him when he leads off in the debate."