SESSION NEXT WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14912, 10 February 1912, Page 8

SESSION NEXT WEEK.

TO DECIDE A GRAVE ISSUE. ORDEROF FORMAL BUSINESS. Pabliament will meet in Wellington for the despatch of business on Thursday afternoon. During this special session, the members of the House of Representatives will determine by their votes the controversy that has been carried on since the general elections , regarding tho relative strength of the two parties, ; The essential purpose of the session is of the gravest interest to the whole of tho Dominion, but it will bo preceded by the formalities which aro usual to the opening of Parliament when the Government of the day is secure of office by its numerical strength.-. Members of the House of Representatives and of the Legislative Council will assemble in their respective .' chambers at 2.30 p.m., and, upon receipt of a message, tho members of the Lower House will go up to the Legislative Council. There Parliament will be opened by Commission, and | members of the Lower House .will be informed that 'it is the wish of the Governor that they should elect a Speaker. They will return to the House, and will be sworn in. Upon the fulfilment of this formality, the House will proceed with tho election of its Speaker. It is upon a ballot for the election of a Speaker that members of a new Parliament vote for the first time, and, on many occasions, the defeat of . the member nominated by tho Government has been accepted as a vote of no-confidence. When this course is adopted the fate of the Administration is decided upon the first day of the session. In other circumstances a Speaker is elected and takes tfie chair. The House then adjourns till 'the following day.: ' . " Before the next sitting of the House, the Speakerelect, attended by his proposer and seconder, presents himself to the Governor, and the Governor signifies his approval of the choice of the' House. Upon assembling, the Speaker, with 'the House, goes to the Council' Chamber ! to hear .the Governor's Speech, which will be delivered on Friday afternoon. It is unlikely that the speech will proceed beyond an explanation for the early session, and an indication that the House should decide the uncertainty regarding the etate of the parties. Formal business will be transacted by both Houses, and in the House of Representatives : notice- will • be given. of : the Address-in-Reply, and of the amendment from the Opposition, upon which the noconfidence debate will bo based. The House will then adjourn till the following Tuesday, February 20, and when it resumes, the debate on the no-confidence motion will be commenced. As the amendment will be accepted a3 one of want of confidence, the fullest latitude will be allowed to those members who take part in the debate. ; ■

'■ If the 7 Government defeat the no-con-fidence motion, ' Parliament will be prorogued till the usual time of meeting at the end of June. In the event of Mr. Massey's amendment being carried, the resignation of the Government will'follow. Mr. Massey will bo " sent for" by the Governor, and if he succeeds in forming a Government it will meet the House, and Parliament will be prorogued till June, to enable the new Ministry to prepare us policy. < • "•' ;. '" .-. It is generally expected that the session will: not" extend beyond a fortnight, so that members will probably be free to return to their homes during the first week in 'March. /■■■'■ •"* ■