DOMINION POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18760, 13 January 1923, Page 10

DOMINION POLITICS

THE NEW PARLIAMENT. SESSION MAY BE DELAYED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. January 12. Asked to-day whether the date for the opening of Parliament had yet been definitely decided upon, Mr Massey replied: “No; we must await the results of three or four election petitions before we can fix tho dates." Three Cabinet Ministers—the Hon. C. J. Parr (Eden), the Hon. E. P. Lee (Oarnaru), •and Sir Maui Pomare (Western Maori) are concerned in the election petitions, Mr Leo as a petitioner, while the returns of Mr Parr and Sir Maui Pomare are petitioned against. It had been understood that Parliament would probably meet on February 14 for a short session to try out the strength of the parties, but if tho election petitions were not decided before then it was likely that Parliament would be summoned for a later The Liberal Party leader, Mr T. M. Wilford, returned to Wellington from (Rotorua this afternoon. Replying to a question, Mr Wilford stated that the date, for the Liberal caucus meeting had not yet been definitely settled. If tho opening of Parliament were held over because of the election petitions, the caucus might be correspondingly delayed until the party had mot. Ho had nothing to say about the political situation. HON. E. P. LEE’S RESIGNATION. PORTFOLIOS TAKEN BY MR MASSEY. WELLINGTON, January 12. Tho resignation of tho Hon. E. _P. Lee lias been forwarded to tho Governor-Genera.. Mr Massey is taking the three portfolios concerned —Justice, External Affairs, and Industries and Commerce-Spending the decision of the election petition. THE WAITOMO SEAT. NO PETITION TO BE LODGED. WELLINGTON, January 12. Mr W. I'. Jennings (Liberal) emphatically denies the persistent rumour that he intends to lodge a petition against the return of Mr J. C. Rolleston (Reform) for Waitomo.