OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 133, 28 July 1911, Page 4

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

“In view of the lengthy session of last year, and the large amount of important legislation which was then passed, my advisers are of opinion that this session may lie a comparatively short one, in order that the general election may ho completed as early as possible,” may be said to be the principal paragraph of tho Governor’s speech delivered yesterday. A number of amending Bills arc certainly ndicated, but their introduction was promised months ago, so that there is nothing new in their inclusion in the Speech from the Throne. ’flic absence from the Dominion of the Prime Minister will probably account for the barrenness of the Governor’s utterance; but oven had Sir Joseph Ward been in bis place in the House it is somewhat doubtful, under the circumstances set out in tho remarks quoted above, whether much more business would have been indicated. There is the possibility, however, that the Speech would have received a different colouring, and by skilful manipulation of the same niatei ial at the disposal of those temporarily at tho head of affairs, Sir Joseph would iiave made up a more satisfying history of the past and have dealt more picturesquely with the future. It is evident that from the commencement of tSio session of 1911, thoughts of members arc chiefly centred on the question : Shall we lie hero after the coming general election? There will

ho' changes, hut the hallot-hox alone can, reveal the secrets of gucci j» ■ 01 defeat. Tlio coming contest promises to l)o a strenuous light, hut it is extremely difficult at this early period to forecast what issues will be submitted to the electors; that there wih be some hard ugh ting or. both sides' is quite certain, because a clear indication lias been given of this in the attitude taken up hy the several leaders iu pie-sessional addresses.