PARLIAMENT OPENS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 149, 26 June 1931, Page 7

PARLIAMENT OPENS

THE FIFTH SESSION TRADITIONAL PAGEANTRY THE GALLERIES CROWDED (Per Press Aesocia ton.) WELLINGTON, June 25. The fifth session of the twenty-third Parliament was opened by the Gover-nor-General this afternoon with raditional ceremony. His ExcclJencv and Lady Bledisloe left Government House at 2.15 p.m. Io the accompaniment of a salute of nineteen guns fired by the R.N.Z.A. from Point Jcrmingham. Their Excellencies wero accompanied by the official secretary, Air Day, Captain Sir John Hanham and Lieutenant El I worthy (aides-de-camp). , Oi arrival at Parliament Buildings, their Excellencies wore reccvicd at the foot of tho steps by the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces. AFajor-General Kin'lair-Bur-gess, and the senior naval officer, Captain Fraser. The opening bars of tho National Anthem being played by the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Band, his Excellency then inspected the Guard of Honour, provided by the Royal Naval Vol .nteor Reserve under Lieutenant-Commander Cross. In the meantime her Excellency was escorted to her place in tho Legislative Council Chamber by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kane, attended by Air Day and Lieut. Ell worthy. Lady Bledisloe was presented with a bouquet by he Speaker of tho Legislative Council, who also presented a bouquet to Airs Forbes.

Al embers of the Supreme Court Bench, led by the Chief Justice, were stationed on tho left of tho Throne in tho Chamber, and scats weer also occupied by the wives of Ministers of the Crown and others. A largo attendance of the public had assembled in the grounds of Parliament Buildings in tho bright sunshine, and there wero crowded galleries in the Legislative Council Chamber. On entering Parliament House, after inspecting tho guard, his Excellency was received by tho Gentleman Usher of Black Rod, Afr A. T. Bothamloy, who was using for the first time tho new Black Rod presented by Lord Bledisloc. On entering tho Chamber of the Legislative Council, Lord Bledisloe was accompanied by Alajor-Gcn-eral Sinclair-Burgess, Captain Fraser, Paymaster-Commander Webster, Colonel Symon, Colonel Cunningham, Lieut.-Colonel Standish, Lieut.-Colonel Saunders and Wing-Commander Grant Dalton. Taking his seat on the Throne, his Excellency commanded Black Rod to summon the Alcmbers of tho House of Representatives, who took their seats at the rear of tho Chamber. The At-torney-General and Loader of the Legislative Council, Sir Thomas Sidey, handed to Lord Bledisloe a copy of tho speech, which his Excellency then, read. After their Excellencies and party and Alcmbers of the House of Representatives had left the Chamber, Sir Edwin Alitchelson gave notice to move the Addrcss-in-Rcply motion on Wednesday next. The Counc.. adjourned at 3.20 until Tuesday. Proposed Legislation In the House of Representatives tho Speaker announced the result of the Hauraki by-election, and tho new member, Air W. H. Massey, was sworn in, Alessrs Samuel and Endcan acting as sponsors. Notice was given of intention to introduce tho following Bills: Currency Bill (Air H. G. R. Mason); Electoral Amendment (Air C. H. Clinkard); Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment (Mr Afason); Gaming Amendment (Mr H. T. Arr trong); Rotorua Vesting and Empowering (Afr Clinkard); Local Election and Polls Amendment (Mr Afason); Deaths by Accident Compensation Amendment (Air Alason); Crimes Amendment (Mr Alason); Shipping and Seamen Amendment (Mr Alason).

Replying to Air Barnard, ’lon. J. B. Donald said that, it was intended to restore tho Napier Post Office to its former state. The work would bo put in hand by the Public Works Department at an early date, and it was anticipated that it would take about 12 months Afr W. C. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central), asked whether tho Government would provide further subsidies to hospital boards to enable the i to make some payment towards rent in necessitous cases, to avoid people b?ing turned into the street in the present winter weather without a prospect of finding shelter. Hon. G. W. Forbes said tho matter would be dealt with in the Budget. Replying to Mr W. J. Jordan (Labour, Manukau), Mr Forbes said that the Authorities Empowering (Relief of Unemployment) Extension Bill wc-ld bo introduced this session. Air F. Lye (United, Waikato), gavo notice of intention to move tho Ad-dress-in-Reply motion. Tho Prime AHnister intimated that the Imprest Rill and Local Authorities Empowering (Relief of Unemployment) Extension Bill would He dealt with to-morrow. Tho House rose at 3.35 p.m. till X3O p.m. to-morrow.