THE SESSION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 71, 23 February 1932, Page 7

THE SESSION

OPENING CEREMONIAL. , GOVERNOR’S SPEECH TO-MORROW. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 23. As a new Parliament opens to-day the preliminaries will occupy a good deal of time. Cabinet has been sitting regularly for the consideration of legislation, though it is not expected that more than general references to the programme will be contained in the Speech from the Throne to be delivered by the Governor-General on Wednesday, the real opening day. On its assembling to-day the House of Representatives will have no Speaker to. direct its proceedings. Members must first take the oath of allegiance; then the Clerk of the House will take nominations for the Speakership. These, it is expected will be limited to that of the retiring Speaker, Sir Charles Statham., One of the interesting features of t these early proceedings is that ■-'he Clerk of the House must conduct them almost in dumb show. He has not Mr Speaker’s freedom in putting ques- ■ tions and calling on members. The first business after the taking of the oath is to meet the members of the Legislative Council in the latter’s chamber when a Commission comprising Hon. Sir Walter Carncross, Speaker of the Upper House, Hon. Sir James Parr, Leader of the Upper House, Hon, R. deputy Leader, Rt. Hon. -Sir Francis Bell and Hon. Sir Thomas Sidey will direct the members of the Lower House to appoint their Speaker and submit him for His Excellency’s approval. This election will immediately follow, the House then adjourning to meet on Wednesday afternoon as a preliminary to again attending in the Legislative " Council to hear the Speech from the Throne. The sessional programme has been generally outlined in these columns and no further information upon | vitally important financial measures is I available. Cabinet itself has to mark |, time to some extent pending, receipt I of the report ‘ from the committee of I experts who have been directed to I examine the general economic situa--1 tion, and the still wider report of an I interim character which the Royal 8| Commission on Economies has been 1 asked to furnish by March 1. I LABOUR LEGISLATION. I- Cabinet has had under active preli paration the proposed labour legislaI tion, which has as its main principle I compulsory conciliation in labour disi; putes, but making tlie next stage of | appeal to the Arbitration Court a I matter for mutual agreement. It is hoped to remove many restrictions which, under the ilifficoilt economic conditions, have acoentuated the unemployment problem. Therefore, the Apprenticeship Act is under overhaul and the limitation principle appearing in most awards mav ultimately disappear with the object of giving wider opportunities to New Zealand ! youths. , ~ . Thursday afternoon s meeting of ; the Lower House will be devoted to ! recognition of the services of deceased members, of whom there are no fewer than five on the obituary list. Ihe passing of suitable motions will be followed by an adjournment, but the Government is anxious to < T et on with the business and proposes to resume the sitting in the evening when Mr A. J. Murdoch, member for Mars- : den, the Chief Government Whip, will j; move the Address-in-Reply motion § which will be seconded by his colI league, Mr J. Bitchener, member tor 1 Thus the stage is set for the official 1 Opposition to challenge on Friday, I when Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the I Labour Party, will continue the I; debate.