GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17455, 25 October 1918, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

OPENING OP PARLIAMENT

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH.

(Pee United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, October 24. file fifth session of the nineteenth Parliament was opened, this afternoon by the Governor-general. His Excellency was awaited by a guard of honour consisting of a unit ol tho Forty-fourth Infantry Reinforcements, and a moderate concourse of spectators, whoso numbers were considerably diminished by a cold southerly wind. I" the mojLntime members of tho liouso ?n, * ,c P resen ' a ''ivcs assembled in tho new Chamber. Here many appointments are necessarily of a temporary nature, and other features havo yet to bo provided. Still, to the eye, members lind themselves housed icr skL,oi y C-hainber, with a floor epaco 65ft x 43ft rising to a height of 33ft. Members benches have been arranged in the orthodox fashion, Ministers being placed on the right of tho Speaker, who sits beneath an ornamental canopy constructed of puriri, which, together with rimu panels, makes display of New Zealand's decorative timbers.

At 2.40 members were called by tho Usher of the Black Rod to the Legislative Council to hear tho Governor-general's Speech read. In the gallery of 'the Council Chamber were a number of new M.L.O.'s with their wives and daughters. Tho new members are:—Tho Hon. Messrs Alison Auckland), Fleming (Balclutlia), Fraser (Hastings), Garland (Auckland), Geddis (Napier), Gow (Opotiki), Grimmond (Ross), Hawke (Invercargill), Izard (Wellington), Jones (Oamaru), Louisson (Chris tchurch), j- \ (Hokitika), Sir John Sinclair (DunMessrs Stewart (Kawakawa), Te Hcuheu lekino (Ivakahi), Thomson (Dunedin), .^P 1 . I 'ituki (Ruapuko Island), Triggs (Christehurch), and Wigram (Christchurcli). ine Governor-general was accompanied by tho Countess of Liverpool, A.D.C.'s, and private secretary, and attended by Maiorgeneral Sir Alfred Robin, Surgeon-general Henderson Captain Hall Thompson, R.N., Colonels late, Esson, and Hume, lion. A.D C. s. Colonels Collins, Campbell, and Purdy. His Excellency then read the bpcech from tho throne as follows:— Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— When I addressed yon on April 9 of the present year, at tho opening of last session, tho position of tho Allied armies on the westcva iront was sucli as to give great cause lor anxiety In that Speech, after stating that tho then present moment probably marked tho crisis of the war in which the Empire had so long been engaged, I said: Y\ o are well assured that the courage and cnaurance of our armies now tried to tho Uttermost will not fail in the present or tho future. We have the record of the past tnreo years to justify that confidence." fc>oon after tho termination of that session the strategy of Marshal Foch and tho splendid valour and endurance of the Allied armies, under his single command, changed the course of tho war from defence to continuous attack upon the enemy's positions, and thence-forward victory has followed victory, until there has come first the unconditional surrender of Bulgaria, and then urgent proposals for peace from the other enemy countries, while the Allies occupy large parts of Belgium, and of France which tor fcrar years had been under the domination of Germany in. tho operations o n tho western front. Our New Zealand Division lias been constantly in action, and has given the dominion renewed cause to be proud of our soldiers' record of courage and discipline. In tho east also our mounted forces havo had part in the wonderful series of successes by which the army under General Alien by s command has driven tho enemy Jri heyond the bounds of Palestine. The position to-day is one of extreme tension, and there are strong reasons for believing that peace will not be long delayed; but any relaxation of efforts on dux part could only have the effect of e n | dangenng our satisfaction with the dominion s war effort. Our enemies must bo | convinced that there will be no termination of the war until they submit to just and P ro P°sals for reparation, and give sufficient guarantees against renewed attempts to ignore the law of nations, and disturb the peace of tho world. The Imperial War Cabinet, and tho Imperial War Conferences, which my Prime Minister and Minister of Finance attended during tho recess, together with representatives of all tho oversea dominions and India, mark a great development in the constitutional history of the Empire. Opportunity was thus given for tho views of this dominion on many subjects to be fully considered from the standpoint of the whole Empire. My two Ministers were also enabled to advance the interests of -New Zealand in mahy important respects. _ Measures will bo submitted for your consideration granting pbwer to local bodies to initiate hydro-electric schemes for their rospectivo districts, for tho prevention of the aggregation of land, for tho prevention of tho acquisition of land in New Zealand by persons of enemy origin, for the better protection of soldiers and their wives and dependents, for tho prevention of traffic in military decorations, for the necessary preservation of New Zealand forests, and for the limitation :of export of timber. It is intended to submit to Parliament certain necessary legislation relating to the present constitution of tho Legislative Council. You will also be asked to gonsider the subject of tho inereaso in the Cost of Living consequent on the war, and to devise such remedies as may bo possible. In order to promote educational progress, proposals will he submitted.

Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the 'Housk of Refbesentatives,— I desire to congratulate you upon your removal into surroundings more in accordant With the dignity and importance of j our deliberations than tile rooms you have occupied since the destruction of the Parliamentary Buildings. The Public Account and tho Estimates which will be laid before you will afford proof that economy has been and is being exercised in the various departments of the State. Tho increase in expenditure is largely due to the cost of the war and tho growing interest and sinking fund ,on the dominion debt. A comprehensive scheme for demobilisation and repatriation has _ been prepared, and will be submitted during the present session. Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Reit.esentatives,— t I trust that in your deliberations Divine Providence may guide you to tho advantage of our Sovereign, of his Empire, and of this dominion.

After the reading of tho Specc'h and the departure* of tho Governor-General, the party adjourned for a few minutes. On resumption, a mcssago was received from tho Governor-General notifying tho death of tho Speaker of . the Legislative Council (Sir Charles Johnston) and tho appointment of 19 new members. The new members, except the Hons. Messrs Eraser and Geddis and Sir John Sinclair, were present, and were sworn in.

THE LEADER (Sir Francis Bell) gavo notice to move that the Hon. Mr Samuel be Acting Oh airman of Committees pending the election of a Speaker on Friday November 1.

Hio Council adjourned at 3.30 p.m. On the House resuming after the return of members from tho Legislative Council, the newly-elected members were sworn in as follows Grey, Mr Holland ; Wellington Central, Mr Fraaer; Taranaki, Mr Smith. The House then proceeded to formal business.

Mr M'CALLUM gave notice to ask tho Government if it would appoint a Roval Commission to inquire into the alleged overcrowding on the transports which carried the 40th Reinforcements. Dr THACKER also gave notice of a series of questions on the same subject. Dr NEWMAN gave notice of his intention to ask the Government if it proposed to refer the liquor question to a referendum of the people.

Mr JENNINGS gave notice of his intention to .ask the Government if it would appoint a committee of the House to inquire into tho administration of reserves by those public bodies endowed with public lands.

Mr SIDEY asked: (1) If the transport winch carried tho 40th Reinforcements was on her Inst voyage prior to being put on the Atlantic run; (2) if influenza was not prevalent in the convoy of which the transport was one; and (3), how tho percentage of deaths compared with these on other transports.

Mr A lAS SET gave notice to introduco the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill Notice was also given of the intention to introduco the following Bills;— I Toll-irata* Abolition (Mr Wilkinson), Definition of ,V, mo , j^, r Sidey), Legislature Amendment (Mr M Combs), Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment (Mr Walker) Proportional Representation, Police Force Act Amendment, and Dominion State Bank (Mr Vcitch), and Nationalisation of Aliens (Mr Brown).

Leave of absence was granted to Mr Glover on account of £U-heal&.

Mr ANDERSON gayo notice to mora nejct sitting day _ that a respectful address bp presented to his Excellency the GovernorGeneral in reply to his Speech from tho Ihrone. replying to Mr Holland, Sir JAMES ALLEN said the report concerning tho alleged ill-treatment of conscientious objectors at tho Wanganui Gaol had not yet been before the Cabinet, and he was unable to make any announcement concerning In moving tho adjournment of tho liouso, Mr MASS hi ¥ said he desired to compliment members upon being able to meet in the new chamber. No doubt members havo put up with many inconf° r a time, but the fact that they had assembled in now quarters was a promise of better things. That, no doubt, would be tho principal council chamber of the dominion for generations, perhaps for hundreds of years, and ho could only express the hope that Within its walls there would bo passed legislation which would mete out equal justice to all classes, and encourage a national spirit and national ideas which would tend to make NewZealand respected, not only throughout tho Empire, but amongst tho whole of tho nations of the world.

The House adjourned at 3.40 p.m. till 2.30 pan. to-morrow.