THE NEW HOUSE

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9076, 22 June 1915, Page 5

THE NEW HOUSE

OPENING PROCEDURE OLD-ESTABLISHED FORMALITIES TO BE OBSERVED. The first session of the nineteenth Parliament of New Zealand will bo opened on Thursday “by Commission.” The procedure followed at the initial meeting of a new Parliament will be observed, the election of the Speaker being the chief business on Thursday. His Excellency the Governor will deliver his Speech on Friday afternoon, after he has received and approved tho new Speaker. It is probable, therefore, that Parliament will not begin work seriously until Tuesday next, when tho debate on the Addross-in-Re-ply may be opened. The rules that govern the opening of a new Parliament aro laid down in the Standing Orders, and they have a certain interest of their own. The members of the House of Representatives will assemble in their own chamber at 2.30 p.m. and await a summons to the Legislative Council Chamber to hear the Governor’s Commission read. On receiving the message they will follow tho Clerk of the House to tho other chamber, and learn that His Excellency “will declare in person tho cansea of his calling this Parliament together” on the following dayThe members will be directed in the meantime to “proceed to the choice of a fit and proper person to fill the high and important office of Speaker,” and, having selected him. to present him at Government House for the Governor's approval on Friday morning. When the members of the Lower Bouse return to their chamber, they will first take the oath, which will be administered by the Clerk. Tbcn they will elect the Sneaker, following the procedure that is laid down in the standing orders:— A member, addressing himself to the Clerk (who, standing up, points to him, and then sits down) proposes another member, then present, to the House for their Speaker, and moves that such member “do take tho Chajr of this House as Speaker.” Such motion being seconded and supported, if no other member bo proposed as Speaker, tho member so proposed is called by the House to the Chair, without any question being put. The member, on being called to tho Chair, stands up in his place, and expresses his sense of the honour proposed to bo conferred upon him, and submits himself to the House. Being again unanimously called to the Chair, he is taken out of his place by the members who proposed and seconded him, and by them conducted to the Chair.

The procedure becomes a littlo more complicated if there are two nominees for the Speakership, but it is understood that on the present occasion there will be no second candidate.' Mr F. W. Lang, member for Manukau, who became Speaker after the death Of the late Sir Arthur Guinness, is expected to receive the Ministerial nomination again, and ho will have no rival as far as the Opposition is concerned. , , , After the election of the Speaker the House customarily adjourns until the following morning, when the new Speaker, occontpariied by the members, waits upon His Excellency the Governor and receives the Vice-Regal approval. It is on this occasion that the Speaker lays claim formally to the privileges of in the following words:—

I have now on behalf of the House of Representatives of New' Zealand to lay claim to all their privileges, and especially to freedom of speech in debate, and to free access to Your Excellency whenever occasion may require it, and that, the most favourable construction may be put

on all their proceedings. His Excellency the Governor replies in a form that is also established by precedent:—

I on behalf of the King confirm all the rights and privileges of the House of Representatives to the same extent as they have been granted hitherto. I also assure you that the House of Representatives will always have ready access to me,' and that I will at all times place the most favourable construction on

their proceedings. That completes the formal procedure l Jn connection with the opening of Par-i liament, and the members are free! then to begin work. Usually their 1 first task is a lengthy and unprofitable debate upon the Address-in-Reply.