PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20820, 12 March 1931, Page 13

PARLIAMENT.

'EMERGENCY SESSION.

THE OPENING CEREMONY.

TASK BEFORE GOVERNMENT.

TEST OF CONFIDENCE.

NOTICE BY MR. HOLLAND.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The emergency session of. Parliament tailed for the purposo of dealing with urgent legislation arising out of the prevailing depression and the Hawke's Bay earthquake, was opened this afternoon by tho Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, with traditional ceremony. Tho Vice-Regal party left Government House at 2.15, the departuro being signalled by a saluto of 19 guns fired by tho Royail New Zealand Artillery from Point Jerningham. Their Excellencies were accompanied by Major A. 11. Bathurst, military secretary; Mr. A. C. Day, official secretary; and Captain Sir John Hanham and Lieut. J. C. Elworthy, aides-de-camp. A guard of honour opposite the cntranco of Parliament Houso was formed by Wellington College Cadets and several Cadets from Napier were included in tho guard. Their Excellencies were met at tho foot pf the stops by tho general officer commanding tho military forces, MajorGeneral R. Young, and the senior naval officer, Captain J. S- G. Fraser, the opening bars of the National Anthem being played as tho Vice-Regal party alighted .» from tho motor-cars. Inspection of the Guard. Lord Bledisloe then inspected the guard, \rhile Lady Bledisloe was escorted to her place in the Legislative Council Chamber. Her Excellency was formally presented with a bouquet of pink carnations by the Speaker of the Legislative Council, Sir Walter Carncross, who also presented Mrs. Forbes with a bouquet of pink roses.

An innovation on this occasion was the presence on the floor of tho Legislative Council Chamber in their robes of office of representatives of tho Supreme Court Benqh. On the left of the throne were tho Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, Justices Reed, Adams, MacGregor, Ostler, Blair and Smith. As usual, the other seats on the left of tho dais were occupied by wives of Ministers of the Crown and other ladies.

Entering Parliament Houso after inspecting the guard, His Exoellency was escorted into tho Legislative Council Chamber where members of tho Council were assembled. Taking his seat in the Speaker's chair, His Excellency commanded black rod to summon members of tho Houso of Representatives, who shortly filed in and took seats at tho rear of the Chamber. Tho Governor-General then delivered his speech. New Member Sworn In. On members returning to the House rf Representatives, the new member for Western Maori, Mr. Taite Te Tomo. was formally sworn in. Mr. Vincent Ward (United—lnvercargiU) was granted ten days' leave on account of absence from tho Dominion. Mr. A. E. Jull (United— Waipawa) gave notice of intention to move that the Address-in-Reply be presented to the Governor-General. Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of tho Labour Party, gavo notice of intention to move an amendment to the Address-in-Rcply to the effect that the Government dijl not possess the confidence of the House or the country. The usual motions expressing appreciation of the services rendered to Now Zealand and sympathy with the relatives ■were adopted in respect of the late Hon. John Barr, former Chairman of Committees of the Legislative Council; the late Hon. T. Shailer Weston, member of the Legislative Council; and the late Mr. George Hutchison, former M.P. for Patea.

The House rose at 4 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow as a mark of respect to the deceased legislators.

BUSINESS OF SESSION.

URGENT MATTERS ONLY.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

A question whether members would be given an opportunity of discussing the stoppage of work on tho Midland railway was asked by Mr. G. C. C. Black (United—Motueka) in tho Houso of Representatives this afternoon.

The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, replied that matters coming before the present session would be those of urgency. Other questions would bo dealt with in the ordinary way at tho ordinary session.

THE EARTHQUAKE AREA.

QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] WELLINGTON, "Wednesday.

Several matters relating to the Hawke s Bay earthquake were mentioned in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour— Napier) asked the Minister of Railways, Hon. W. A. Veitch, whether he would arrange for a special train to convey members to the earthquake area over the week-end. Mr. Veitch said that if Mr. Barnard would inform him how many members desired to make the trip be would then ascertain what would be the cost of a special train, or whether the ordinary train would be sufficient to meet rcquiie-

ments' Replying to Mr. Barnard, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister in charge of pensions, stated that the Pensions Office at Napier would be reopened as soon as possible. In the meantime an office was located at Palmerston North, and the registrar paid regular periodic visits to Napier. There were a great many Napier people living in the vicinity of Palmerston North at present, and to them the office was in a !nost convenient centre. The Hon. J. B. Donald, Minister of Marine, informed Vlr. Barnard that charts recording the old ♦nd new soundings of the Napier HarSpur and roadstead had been prepared.