THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10410, 7 April 1897, Page 5

THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

THE OPENING CEREMONY.

SIR MAURICE O'RORKE ELECTED

SPEAKER.

INTERESTING REMINISCENCES.

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY FIXED FOR

TO-DAY.

[By TELEGRAPH,PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Tuesday. The first session of the thirteenth Parliament of New Zealand was opened by Commission at 2.30 p.m. The Commissioners wevo the Hons. Millar, Montgomery, Walker, Dr. Grace, and Captain Baillie. There was an unusually large attendance of Legislative Councillors, no less than thirty-five being present, and members of the Lower House appeared to the number of close on seventy. There was not a large attendance in the galleries, and the proceedings were purely formal. The Commissioners announced that the Administrator of the Government) would make his opening speech to-morrow afternoon.

There was no sitting of the Council, as Mr. Millar, the . Speaker, having been elected for five yirnrs, there was no election to bo held. His term expires on July 14. The first businees in the House of Representatives was the swearing in of members, who look the oath in batches of

Mr. Larkach then briefly proposed the election of Sir U. M. O'Rorko as Speaker, remarking that this would be the seventh time he hud been chosen to fill that dignified position. Mr. Montgomery briefly seconded the nomination.

After waiting a shorb interval, and no one else being proposed, Sir Maurice Q'Rorkk thanked the members lor the honour conferred on him. Ho little thought when he first enterod Parliament in 1861, that in 1897 he alone would be left of those who then sat in the Chamber. Last session Mr. Saunders had been the only one besides himself who was in that Parliament, and by the fortune of war he, too, had now disappeared from the scene. Sir Maurice referred to the object of this session, and expressed the hope that members would smooth the way tp the proper representation of the colony on so memorable an occasion as that which would shortly bo celebrated at home. Sir Maurice O'Rorke then took the Speaker's chair, and was congratulated by the Premier and Captain Russell. The Premier, in moving the adjournment of the House, said the debato on tho Address-in-Roply would bo taken at 7.30 p.m. to-morrow. SOME NOTES ON THE PROCEEDINGS. PART if TACTICS. DISAGREEMENT AMONG MINISTERIALISTS. OPPOSITION TO THE CONTINGENT. THE PREMIER'S ATTITUDE. THE POSITION"REGARDED AS CRITICAL. [by telegraph,own correspondent.] Wellington, Tuesday. There ar(P several circumstances which impart a special interest to the present Parliament. It is the first time that a new Parliament under the Constitution Act has been opened by a Commission under an Administrator holding his commission from a retiring Governor, and during the absence of a now Governor holding his commission from the Queen. It is the first time that tho Address-in-Reply to tho usual "Speech from the Throne" will be supervened by a Financial Statement (approximate) prepared for the purpose "of usking provision to be made" for the journey of the Promior of tho colony to England upon an invitation from the Secretary of

State for the Colonies. Tho proceedings to-day, although brief, were somewhat technical. The Hon. MiMillar, having announced the Commission, directed the usher' of tho Black Rod (Mr.

Botlioinley) to summon the members of trio House of Representatives to hear the message read. Presently the members trooped in headed by the Ministers and the Leaders of the Opposition. Evidently all, or nearly all, the members were present, for the "Faithful Commons" occupied tlio whole of the space between the benches. • The Commission simply stated that the Administration of the colony would on tho day following (the 7th of April) state the reason for the representatives being called together. It was clear from this that the 11 Speech from the Throne" will be very specific, and that it will confine tho financial

business of the session within very strict limits.

When tho members of the House of

Representatives filed into their own chamber and took their seats the difference between the composition of the present and that of the forinor Parliament was very apparent. The Opposition proper looked a compact body, It was noticed that they were silent throughout, the Government benches indulging in the largest measure of applause. Members of other sections of tho House indulged themselves in crossing the floor to chat with friends. Looked at from the

Press Gallery it was the subject of general remark that the Opposition possessed all the external signs of a strong cohesion and unity of purpose. This feature the other sections of the

House lacked. A disinterested party referring to this audibly remarked, "In a fight there would be greater safety in the Opposition, so far as outside appearance can disclose any of the quality within." During the proceedings there was evidently a depressed appearance on the Government Benches. The Premier is one of the first to manifest bis feelings when anything does not travel in the direction he wishes. I learnt that the following was the occasion of some misunderstanding. It is stated that when a Speaker is to be elected without opposition by the ordinary practice and courtesy of Parliament, the Premier moves and the Leader of tho Opposition seconds the nomination. Ths " guarded" speech of the Hon. Captain Russell gave the cue to those who were suspicious of something going amiss. The evident uneasiness of the Government side of the House confirmed this view. At a

later period of the day the suspicion was further confirmed that there was a " rift in the political lute," which had ceased to have the right tone.

The Opposition now await the Government proposals. They have on all ocoasions, and in all places declared that) nothing shall be wanting that they can do to have the colony represented in London on the occasion of Her Majesty's fete; but it became known later on that it was the supporters of the Government who wore giving trouble. Heads were counted, and possible accidents allowed for.

I understand that the Opposition will hold a meeting to-morrow. The Government supporters are now in caiicus. The position is said to be critical. The proof of this is stated to be in the following statement of factßather late last evening the Premier caused to be distributed copies of Mr. Chamberlain's invitation, and it is understood that if the contingents are nob allowed to go to England he will not go. This is a surprise, and the position is reversed. The Opposition may be called on to keep the Government in against their own people, who might turn them out, This is like Mr. Scobie Mackenzie's epigram of 1895, and thus history repeats itself. It would be a curious result if the loyalty of the' Opposition should save the colony from offering an affront to Her Majesty. The Opposition are sound, but the Government party are'' cracking" in all directions. Later. . The caucus rose at 11.30 p.m. It was agreed that the Premier should go home; Thirteen were opposed to the contingent. Thirty-eight members were present.