PARLIAMENT.

Waipa Post, Volume II, Issue 86, 16 February 1912, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

SESSION O'PENED

(By Telegraph—Special to POST)

Received 10.52 a.m

Wellington, To-day

Parliament was opened in the Legislative Council at 2.30 p.m. yesterday by a 'commission consisting of the Hons. Sir Charles Bowen, Sir George McLean, Captain W. H. D. Baillie, J. E. Jenkinson, T. Kelly,. J. McGowan, and C. H. Mills. The commission was read by the Hon. Sir Charles Bowen in the presence of the members of the Legislative Council and of the House of Representatives. The letters patent were read by the Clerk of Parliament, after which the gentlemen of the House of Representatives returned to the Lower House to elect a Speaker. The galleries were filbel with an expectant crowd. The members of the House were sworn in in batches. All the members were present with the exception of Mr Wilford. ELECTION OF SPEAKER.

The ceremony of opening concluded shortly after 3 o'clock, and the Clerk announced that the House would require to proceed with the election of a speaker. Mr Hanan moved that Sir Arthur Guinness be elected to that position. There being no other nominations, Sir Arthur Guinness, accompanied by Messrs Hanan and Myers, took his seat as Mr Speaker, and thanked the House for the honor conferred upon him, declaring that each side should have the fullest of fair play at his hands. Si'r Joseph Ward and Mr Massey congratulated the Speaker on his election. Sir Arthur Guinness briefly responded, and the House adjourned until 2.30 p.m. to-day. His Excellency the Governor will deliver his speech, and it is anticipated that the contents of that speech will be an indication of the way in which the political situation will be evolved. When members' of the House return from hearing the speech read notice will be given of the Ad-dress-in-Reply, and' it is most likely that Mr Massey, in his capacity as leader of the opposition, will be there, and then give notice that he will move an amendment to that motion. Its effect will be that, in view of the decision of the electors at the polls in December last, the House has no confidence in the Government, but it ''s. quite likely that the exact terms of the amendment will not be disclosed until the Leader of the Opposition concludes his speech, which will follow that of the mover and seconder. It is impossible to say how long the debate will last. The Prime Minister has for the present refused to receive all deputations.