A PROCLAMATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18402, 21 May 1934, Page 7

A PROCLAMATION

CALLING PARLIAMENT • SPECIAL GAZETTES (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. Periodically during the Parliamentary recess the members of both Houses receive a “Gazette Extraordinary” intimating that Parliament has been further prorogued until a particular date indicated, on which they are required to assemble to ‘ ‘ take into consideration the welfare and state of the Dominion.” But this is merely an official precaution. Parliament, it is expected, will not meet on tliut date, though if any emergency arose it could then be summoned. • Finally, when the Houes is actually needed to assemble, the summons includes the phrase “ifor the despatch of business,” and members know that this really means a journey to Wellington. To reinforce the formal summons, it is the Prime Minister’s custom, immediately Cabinet decides on the- opening date for the session, to despatch ,a circular telegram to all members. A sentence is only needed to give the necessary information, but Parliament is an ancient institution, following precedent with great deliberation, so the proclamation receiv-* od toy members gives them the opening date of the session in the following roundabout fashion: — “Greeting. Whereas the meeting of the General Assembly stands prorogued to May 24, 1934. Nevertheless, for certain causes and considerations \ have thought fit to prorogue the samp to Thursday, June 28, 1934, so’ that neither you nor any of you, on the said 24th day of May at the city of Wellington, are to toe held constrained to appear; commanding and toy the tenor oP these presents enjoining you and each of you, and all others in this behalf interested, that on Thursday, the 28th day of the month of Juno, 1934, personally you be and appear for the despatch of business at half past two in the afternoon in the Parliament Houses situate in Bowen street, in the city of Wellington, there to take into consideration the state and welfare of the said Dominion of New Zealand, and therein to do as may seem necessary.” To say all this requires a special Gazette, and Curious people who have already read the plain fact in the newspapers, but would like to see how it is officially worded, may buy the Gazette for sixpence.