A PRACTICAL OPENING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 59

A PRACTICAL OPENING.

DEFENCE TO THE FORE. TUESDAY, MAY 9. The second session of the nineteenth Parliament of New Zealanci was opened this afternoon, the ceremony varying but little from former openings. The early date is one feature which will distinguish it from recent sessions, it being 28 years since a business session was opened in May. Another point of difference was the unaccustomed brevity of the Governor's Speech, which was a simple deliverance bereft of the usual verbal trimmings and occupying only some three minutes or less in delivery. Splendid weather was experienced for the ceremony, and a considerable number of people, in addition to the limited holders of tickets for admission to the building, gathered at Parliament House. The guard of honor to his Excellency, which consisted of about 150 soldiers from the' Trenfcham and Featherston Camps, formed a very impressive spectacle. They were picked men of about equal height, and their tine soldierly bearing, smartness, and precision in step, were the subject of general admiration. His Excellency the Governor, attired in his court dress, drovo up 2 ;)unc tuaHy at 2.30, accompanied by the Countess of Liverpool and his suite. Members of the General and District Headquarters Defence Staff also attended in uniform. In the Legislative Council the usual impressive ceremony was witnessed. Just prior to the entrance of his Excellency tho Speaker (tho Hon. Mr Johnston) had taken the Speaker's chair, which he vacated 1 , and which his Excellency then occupied. Alongside him was Lady Liverpool, who carried a magnificent bouquet. His Excellency then read the Speech from the Throne. IN THE HOUSE. From tho time the presence of mem bers of the House of Representatives was requested in the Legislative Council t:ll their return less than 10 minutes elapsed almost a record for the inception of a business session. The first man to catch the Speaker's eyein the House was Mr Malcolm, with tho presentation of a petition. After other petitions had been presented, notices of motion became the order. These sufficed to give unmistakeable pointers as to some developments of the session, the most potent being the suggestion that tho Minister of Defence is to be the target for a great many questions. Dear rents were referred to by Mr Wright in notice of his Rent Inspection Bill, and by Mr Wilford in his Limitation of Rent During the War Bill. Mr Wilford also inquired from tho Primo Minister if he would devote a week of Parliamentary time to tho discussion of the cost of living and suspend the Standing Orders to permit of the passage of resolutions on tho subject. Mr Wilford also had a further motion, inviting the House to express the opinion that tho time had arrived to legislate upon war profits, with a penal rate for tho benefit of financial shirkers. Mr Payne was also tho author of numerous questions. His first was an inquiry for a return as to the comparative cost of keeping the " better class" German prisoners on Motuihi Island as against the "ordinary prisoners" on Somes Island, these terms, ho explained, being those of the Minister of Defence. Details as to the cost of fitting up transports, etc., were also asked for by Mr Payne, as well as a return giving the big incomes of the country. Mr Witty inquired for particulars of the enlistments of the country and the promotions to the rank of officers. Mr J. C. Thomson gave notice of tho Soldiers' Voting Bill, and Mr Payno produced a batch, headed by the Von Zedlitz Robbery Resolution Bill. Tho announcement by the Primo Minister that the Nov/ Zealand and Australian troops were now in France, was received with applause, as wore a few happily chosen sentences in which he expressed his assurance that they would hold the line worthily, and when the order camo to advance they would not be found wanting. Mr Massey also quoted, with approval, tho resolution of loyalty passed by the Anglican Synod, now in session in Christchurch, and the House adjourned shortly after 3 o'clock. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10. The sitting of Parliament to-day was brief, consisting, beyond the despatch of formal business, of tributes to the memory of ex-Parliamentarians —the Hons. J. A. Millar, John Duthie, and Messrs E. G. 13. Moss, W. E. Buckland, and A. Dillon—who had died since Parliament last met. THE HON. J. A. MILLAR. The Prime Minister, in moving that the House place on record its high sense of the distinguished services rendered to New Zealand by the late Hon. J. A. Millar, recalled the fact that Mr Millar, the Hon. D. Budclo, the Speaker (Mr Lang), and himself all took their seats in the House on the came day in June, 1894. In looking back over those 22 years ho could not recall any member who Avas more genuinely liked or more highly respected than Mr Millar. Mr Millar never allowed party politics to interfere with personal friendships, and as a result many men who did not agree with his views respected him and felt genuine regret when his death was announced. Quite a number of prominent positions had been occupied by Mr Millar. He was Chairman of Committees and Deputy Speaker for a long time, and lie thought the House had never had a belter or abler chairman than Mr Millar. His control of the Departments of Railways, Labour, Commerce, and Marine at different times was masterly, and he recalled the impression made on himself by the wonderful grasp of detail revealed under Mr Millar's handling of the tariff revision in 1907. He was broad-minded and liberal to a degree, and his death was a loss to the whole dominion. Sir Joseph Ward said that Mr Millar's death removed one who occupied high positions for a great many years. He took a prominent part in the industrial disturbances of the 90's, and helped to bring about conditions which benefited the wage-earners as a whole. In privato life his kindly and genial attributes won for

him many friends, and the fact that ho had been returned for so many years by the same constituency was ample proof of the esteem in which lie was held. The motion was then carried. THE HON. JOHN DUTHIE. A similar motion was moved by the Prime Minister in respect of the late Hon. John Duthie, a member of the Legislative Council and a former member of the Hou.se of Representatives. Mr Duthie, said Mr Massey, was one of the moit prominent figures, not only in the House of Representatives, but in the country. He was respected, and enjoyed the confidence for a very lengthy "period not only of the people of Wellington but of a large proportion of the population of the dominion. A native of Scotland, lie was possessed of the characteristics of his race —indomitable will, strict integrity, and untiring energy, —and he left a good name and a high reputation. He had no hesitation in saying that his name would be remembered for a very long time to come. Sir Joseph Ward, 'Mr R. A. Wright, and Dr Newman also spoke, and the House adjourned at 3.55 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. tomorrow. The sitting of the Legislative Council was brief, and consisted, as in the Lower House, of tributes to the memory of departed legislators. That 'being done, the Council adjourned till Thursday. MR CARNCROSS HONOURED. A graceful compliment was paid by the Council to-day to the Hon. \V. F. Carncross, who has been selected as the Council's representative in the party of members of the Empire Parliamentary Association, who are leaving' for England in a few days' time. Sir Francis Pell (Leader of the Council) expressed his pleasure that Mr Carncross had been chosen —a sentiment which was cordially endorsed by the other members of the Council. Sir Francis Bell asked for leave to move without notice of motion, that Mr Camcross bo re-elected Chairman of Committees for the session. Ho said he believed the Standing Orders provided for the absence of the chairman, but if it were not so, he intended that he would consult members regarding an amendment of the Standing Orders. On leave being granted, the motion was carried unanimously. SOLDIERS' POLICIES. Mr Witty to-day expressed concern that soldiers' insurance policies should be loaded up on their going to the war. He inquired why the Government insurance Office charged £7 10s per £IOO while two other companies charged only £5. In reply, Sir Joseph Ward stated that ho had instructed the department to fix the lowest rate consistent with safety, and he assured Mr Witty that he was keeping in close touch with the situation, and would watch the soldiers' interests. THURSDAY, MAY 11. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr PAYNE moved the first reading of the Rent Bill. Mr IIINDMARSII contended that a fair rent measure was urgently required. Mr Massey had promised last year that he would take immediate action if rents were raised unduly. Mr MASSEY: "You will get it before the session ends." Several members epoke in appreciative terms of the Bill, the general tenor of the argument being that the introduction of such Bills by private members indicated an urgent necessity for reform. Mr WILFORD said he was glad to hear that the Prime Minister proposed to deal with the rent question this session. The Bill was read a first time. Mr PAYNE, who had seven Bills on the Order Paper, then moved the first reading of the Blind Persons Assistance Bill, which aimed at free passage on the railways and shipping for those who were not in possession of their sight.—The motion was carried. The Unregistered Nurses' Registration Bill and the State Bank Bill, both put forward by Mr Payne, were read a first time. The Discharged Soldiers Settlement Bill and the War Pensions Act Amendment Bill, introduced by Governor's message, were read a first time. The Venereal Diseases Bill (Mr Payne) was read a first time. PRIVATE MEMBERS' RIGHTS. A plea for the rights of private members was made, in Parliament to-day by Mr Payne. The time had arrived, he said, for some dignity to attach to a member of Parliament. They were the directors of State departments, and they should have the right to go into any department, make inquiries, and report to Parliament on any matters of interest. As it was, thev were unable to do that. The Cabinet overrode everything, and the private member had no authority whatever. He did not propose to remain in Parliament if he could not give iiooplo back something for the money he received. He was a professional accountant, and had received from the people £I2OO in salary during- his time in Parliament, and had returned to them not one penny in the way of expert opinion on the finances of any department. FRIDAY, MAY 12. That there is a. likelihood, of a definite campaign in Parliament against the Hon. J. Allen as Minister of Defence was again shown to-day, when Mr Vciteh declared that Mr Allen in that capacity was hopeless. He had no heart, and waft obstinate to a degree. Mr Veitch admitted that ho was probably the hardest worked man in New Zealand, but his activity, he alleged, was akin to that of a mouse in a wire cage. A CIVIL BOARD. That a Oij'il Board, and not a Military Board, should decide in connection with the Military Service Bill whether a man should go to the front was a plea put forward by Mr Anstcy. Ho cited the case of a young farmer anxious to go, but who was prevented by his inability to sub-lease his farm. The Government, Mr Anstcy suggested, should offer such aid as would enable the hundreds of men in this and liko cases, to enlist voluntarily, and not by compulsion. A Military Board adjudicating upon the case cited would make a mess of it. A MILITARY M.P. Captain Hino formed a picturesque figure in the Houso this evening, when he appeared in his uniform, and was warmly received. His speech on the Address-in-Rcply debate was confined to military matters. Ho was particularly outspoken when referring

to the Compulsory Service Bill and the possibility of exemptions under it. "Once you start exemptions," he said, "you open the door to all classes, and I hope that when the Bill is brought down the exemptions will be very well guarded. I hope the Compulsory Bill will rope in all married men up to a certain age. with power to extend it if necessary. We hope it will not bo necessary, but we cannot tell bowmany men we may want. Once the Bill is passed by the House I hope there will be no tinkering with it afterwards."