THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY. DECEMBER 6. 1928. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20584, 6 December 1928, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY. DECEMBER 6. 1928. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

The speech "which the GovernorGeneral delivered at the opening of Parliament yesterday was appropriately -begun -with a reference to the principal topic of discussion at the present time throughout the Empire. In this Dominion the public is more deeply concerned just now aboiit' the illness of the King than it is about domestic politics, and it will join with its whole heart and soul with his Excellency in the expression of the hope that his Majesty may be speedily restored to complete health and strength. The business for which an extraordinary session of Parliament has been summoned at a date following so close upon the general election was defined in the Governor-General’s Speech as that of enabling the House of Representatives to express approval or otherwise of .the Administration. Upon this account and upon no other has Parliament been convened, and consequently, bis Excellency informed members, it was not proposed to submit legislative measures for their consideration during.the present session. The frank acceptance by the Government of the decisioji of the country is signified in this statement. Upon the occasion of the short session in 1913 in circumstances presenting certain

resemblances to the existing situation, a moribund Government placed in the hands of the Governor of the day a lengthy Speech, which, containing promises of legislation in various directions that could not possibly be fulfilled by it, was in effect an elaborate example of political propaganda. It cannot be reasonably dratted that the better and the more dignified course is that which has been adopted by the Reform Government. The verdict of the country has gone against it and its view is clearly that nothing should be done by it to delay the execution of the judgment which the electors have expressed. For this reason, the suggestion was offered yesterday by the Prime Minister that it might be agreed between the parties in the. House that there should be one speech from each side after the Address-in-Reply hag been moved and seconded, so that the division upon the amendment, of which Sir Joseph Ward has given notice expressive of want of confidence in the Government, may be taken not later than to-morrow. Sir' Joseph Ward himself promptly acquiesced in this suggestion, but Mr Holland was silent respecting it and, if his silence may be taken to imply dissent from it, the debate may extend over two or three sittings, although, the result being a foregone conclusion, it is difficult to perceive why the division should not be expedited. In what may be called the normal course of events the business of the session would be completed upon ■ Sir Joseph Ward informing Parliament of the composition of the Ministry which he will be called upon to form. There was some indication yesterday, however, that he may invite Parliament to transact some business of an emergency character so as to to avoid the necessity, which he thinks may otherwise exist, of holding another session early in the year. Upon the whole, in view of the present season of the year and of other circumstances, it would seem that it would be more convenient that this business should he brought £orward at a later session than at the present time.