PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 253, 22 September 1933, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

OPENING CEREMONIAL. NOTICE OF NEW BILLS. Per Press Association. ✓WELLINGTON, Sept. 21. Notwithstanding the rainy weather, the customary, colourful scene was provided by the formal opening of Parliament by Lord Bledisloe this afternoon. The Vice-Regal party conisted of Their Excellencies, Sir Cecil Day (Official Secretary to the Governor-General), Lieutenant Thomson, A.D.C., and Captain Tweedie, A.D.C. On arrival at Parliament grounds, whore large crowds liad assembled, many taking shelter under umbrellas, His Excellency was met by MajorGeneral Sinclair-Burgess (General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces) and Commodore Burges Watson. The combined bands of H.M.S. Dunedin and H.M.S. Diomede played the first bars of the National Anthem, after which His Excellency inspected the guard of honour provided by the New Zealand Division of the Itoyal Navy, while the Lady Bledisloe, accompanied by Sir Cecil Day, was received by the Clerk of Parliament (Mr E. W. Kane) and conducted to her seat on the left of the dais in the Legislative Council Chamber. After inspecting the guard of honour, Lord Bledisloe entered Parliament Buildings, where he was met by Black Rod (Mr A. T. Bothamley). His Excellency then proceeded to the Legislative Council Chamber, preceded by senior officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force. On entering the Chamber, Lord Bledisloe took his seat on the dais and after causing Black Rod to summon members of the House of Representatives, delivered his Speech from the Throne. At the conclusion of the speech, His Excellency left Parliament Buildings and the bands again played the first bars of the National Anthem. HOUSE AT WORK. When members of the House of Representatives returned to their own Chamber, after the formal opening of Parliament by Lord Bledisloe, a large number of petitions were presented, including many praying for amendments to the Gaming Act to permit of telegraphed investments, the. double totalisator and the publication of dividends. Petitions on this subject bore a total of 7000 signatures. Notice was given of intention to introduce the iollowing Bills:—Banks Indemnity Exchange Repeal (Mr W. A. Veitch); Judicial Proceedings, Regulation of Reports (Hon. J. G. Cobbe); New Plymouth Airport (Mr u G. Smith); Bay of Plenty Licensing Committee Enabling (Mr K. S. Williams); Meat Export Control Amendment (Mr W. J. Poison); School Committees Facilities (Mr R. McKeen); British Nationality and Status of Aliens in New Zealand (Mr P. Fraser); Distress and Replevin (Mr P. Fraser). Mrs E. McCombs gave notice to ask cjuestions relating to unemployment among youths and women and girls, and inquiring whether the Government would be prepared to raise the marriage age for both sexes to 16 years.

Replying to Rev. C. Carr, Hon. J. G. Cobbe said the Government was at present considering the question of making it mandatory for stock mortgagees to enter ' into a pooling arrangement in connection with proceedings of the Mortgagors’ Adjustment Commissions. STATION CONTRACT CONDITIONS. The Leader of, the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) asked the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) whether he had investigated the representations of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation relating to the conditions of tender for the new Wellington railway station, in which attention was called to conditions which imposed handicaps upon local manufacturers as compared with overseas manufacturers in respect of tire following points: (a) The contractor was to be liable for sales tax on all materials which he might purchase in the Dominion, but on all materials imported he would not be affected, by the imposition of Customs duties or sales tax; (b) a local manufacturer would apparently have to pay ordinary exchange on such imported articles as he might use, while an overseas contractor seemed to have exchange provided for him at par. Mr Holland asked whether Mr Forbes would iim mediately take steps to remove the disadvantage at which local industry had been placed. Mr Forbes said that when tenders were received for any Government contract, full allowance was made for any disadvantages to which a local contractor might be subject. For instance, if the payment of sales tax were involved or anything of a similar nature were entailed, allowance was made for that in all cases. The principle followed in letting contracts was that, wherever possible, and prices were anything within reason, tlxe local manufacturer received first preference. Mr Forbes said no injustice, would be done to local manufacturers in regard to the Wellington railway station contract. The Expiring Laws Continuance Bill was read a first time pro forma on the motion of Mr Forbes. Mr H. Holland (Christchurch North) jjave notice to move a formal Address-in-Replv motion. Replying to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Forbes said to-morrow afternoon would be devoted to tributes to deceased legislators. The House rose at 3.30 until 3 p.m. to-morrow. THE UPPER HOUSE. REAPPOINTED MEMBERS SWORN IN. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. Sept. 21. The Legislative Council met after the opening ceremony. / Hon. J. A. Hanan and Hon. C. J. Carrington, who had been reappointed during the recess, were sworn in. Hon. W. W. Snodgrass gave notice to move the formal Address-in-Reply motion. The Council rose at 3.30 o’clock until to-morrow., LABOUR PARTY. CAUCUS TO BE HELD LATER, WELLINGTON, Sept. 22. No definite date has . yet been fixed for the Labour Party caucus. Mr E. J. Howard, one of the Labour whips, said yesterday that the caucus would not be held until memorial tributes to Mr J. McCombs had been paid in the House. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, did not reveal in the House yesterday whether he would move a no-confidence amendment to the Address-in-Reply motion. It is expected the decision in this matter will be left to the party caucus.