PARLIAMENT OPENS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20184, 12 March 1931, Page 9

PARLIAMENT OPENS.

EMERGENCY SESSION* GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH. URGENT LEGISLATION. (I'll ESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAJt.) WELLINGTON, March 11. The emergency session of Parliament called for the pufpetse of dealing with' urgent legislation arising out of the prevailing depression and the Hawke's' Bay earthquake was opened at 2.30 this afternoon by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, with traditional ceremony. The Vice-Regal party left GovernmentI House at 2.15 p.m., their departure being signalled by a salute of nineteen guns fired by the Royal New Zealand Artillery from Point Jerningham. Their Excellencies were accompanied by Major A. H. Bathurst (Military ( Secretary), Mr A. C. Day (Official Secretary), Captain Sir John Hanham, and Lieutenant J. C. Efyvorthy (Aides-de-Camp). The guard of honour, mounted opposite the entrance to Parliament Hoijse, was formed from, the Wellington College Cadets. Several cadets from Napier were included in the guard. Their Excellencies were met at the foot of the steps by the General Officer Commanding the Military Forces (Major-General B. (Young), and the Senior Naval Officer (Captain J. 8. G. Fraser), the opening bars of the National Anthem being played as the Vice-Regal party alighted from their motor-cars. His Excellency then inspected the guard,-while Lady Bledisloe was escorted to her place in the Legislative Council Chamber by the Clerk of Parliaments (Mr E. W. Lane) attended by Mr Day and Lieutenant Elworthy. Her Excellency was formally presented with a bouquet of pink carnations by the Speaker of the Legislative Council' (Sir Walter Carncross)/ who also presented Mrs Forbes with a bouquet of pink roses. An innovation on-this Occasion was the jpresence-on the floor of the Legislative Council Chamber in their robes of office of representatives of the Supreme Court Bench. Seated on the Jeft of the Throne were hia Honour' the Chief Justice, Sir Michael MVers, Mr Justice Reed, Mr Justice Adams, Mr Justice MacGrtigor, Mr Justice Ostler, Mr Justice Blair, and Mr Justice Smitii, As usual the other-seats on the left of the dais were occupied by the wives of Ministers of the Crown and other ladies. . Entering Parliament House after inspecting the guard his Excellency was met by the , Gentleman Usher of , the Black Rod (Mr A. T. Bothamley) and the Naval and Military staffs'and, forming into a procession, the party proceeded into the : Legislative Council Cham* ber (where members of the Council-Were assembled) in .the following order;Black Rod, Colonel F, Symoa, Brigadier E. W. L. H. Sinclair Burgess, Captain J. 8. G. Fraser, Major-General Yousig, Lieutenant-Colonel 1 T. Wingr Commander 6. Grant #alton,~Pfl£ymaeter» Commander J. T.'V, Webster, . tBiL Colonel W. the Gover-nor-General,- Major .'Captain Sir John Hanham, and Lieutenant El* worthy. Taking his seat in Mr Speaker's 1 chair, his Excellency commanded ißlaek Rod to summofe niembors.of the. Honso of -Representatives, who shortly and tttok their seats at. the jtetu of, ihe Chamber. They were preceded by, tfcfi Speaker of the ;House ofßepresentatives, Sir Charles Stathaxn, who occu-i pied a position, in the centre of the. Chamber facing hia Excellency. 4 -, * f "THE SPEECH. ' , , In his speech/ the Governor-General) Lprd Bledisloe, Baid:— j^* "Honourable Gentlemen of.the ££s& lative • Council tod GenttwiwC of the House. of Bepreeentatlves—"lt affords "toe much pleasure ■ to meet yon again in Parliament assem» bled. On the advice of my Ministers, I have convened thiif'tfpeeiai sessibn hi' order that your earnest consideration may be given to matters , <*f urgent national importance, arising ottt of the present economic situation'as it affectsthis Dominion.. "S,ince I last .had the opportunity©? addressing you, the external markets for oar products have experienced «• world-wide depression, ana the 'values of our wool., frozen meat, dairy pro* d'uee, and other primary products upon which 1 fciir' national prosperity preponderantly depends, have, after a continuous depreciation over » considerable period reached so loir a level as materially* to affect, directly V ©i* indirectly, tne economic well-being of all sections of the community. - "Here", as in other countries, the depression .of trade and industry, lias inevitably increased unemployment. Although the x measures adopted by my Government, in co-operation, with local authorities, have: afforded: substantial relief, the Solution of this pressing problem continues to receive their anxious and sympathetic consideration. -''Notwithstanding the exercise ."of • strict care, and economy in expenditure,' the public accounts of .the Dominion seem likely to show a deficit for the current ■ financial' yeal*—a deficit which, my advisers consider, will -be largely increased during the subsequent financial year unless with your authority measures are promptly tinder-, taken. Faced with the prospect of a falling revenue and the possible continuance of relatively low export, values for our primary products, my Minigtem desire to stress thei urgent necessity for rigid economy in all'public and private undertakings. Although they are by no means pessimistic regarding the future of New. Zealand, in view of its exceptional natural advantages ' and the characteristic energy and determination of, its people, my Minister are convinced that the difficulties now confronting the Dominion can be effectually overcome only by considerable sacrifices on the part «'tf all sections of the population. Past experience has shown that, where such sacrifices, are I rendered imperative in the interests. [■■ of national welfare,, the pf£>ple of this . country have responded patriotically to' j the call: My advi&rs are stfrmgly of | the opinion that a spirit of co-opera-j tibn and mutual sympathy will prove a > potent factor'in enabling the Dominion to overcome the temporary check in, its; prosperity. , "It is with. the deepest regret that 1.1 refer to the disastrous earthquake wbioh recently'occurred in Napier And Bastings, and the surrounding district, causing serious loss of life, .physical injury, and widespread destruction of property. I desire to associate myself with yoii 'and all otir J people throughout i the Dominion in expressing our heartfelt sympathy with,those who a ha*e 1 .been hereavea or injure'd hy sfais 4te- /• i " ' 1 1 j' 1 ,

/ ; _ r * , ' t . aster,», or ;r wHb have? ebfecgd- theretar material loos, Ycnu'witf be 'asked & consider the best means of solving certain ; urgent ; problems which have arisen in connexion with the .devastated area and ifs population. "Mr Speaker and, Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— . , ''The grave, economic crisis ' which this country in common with - moSt other countries, of -the . world is called upon to face has occasioned financial difficulties for , our farmers, a widespread restriction of trade, and .a considerable stringency m national finance involving (unless prompt action 'be taken) a heavy budgetary shortage in the forthcoming financial year. The difficulties of the present situation have also been accentuated by v tho ! catastrophe in Hawke's Bay. You will jbe asked to consider forthwith | measures for dealing with this problem. Proposals will be placed before you for effecting an alteration in -the rate *of remuneration of the Public Service, for amending the law which governs the powers of the Arbitration Court, for providing for certain increases in taxation, and for the establishment of a Board to administer the railways, astfrell as other proposals designed to assist in surmounting the difficulties of the present situation. Legislative measures , rendered necessary by, the recent earthquake will also be submitted for your consideration. "No additional provision for supply will be necessary during this fecial session of Parliament; but you will be furnished l with information relating to tho finances of the Dominion for the first eleven months of the current financial year. • ' 'Honourable Gentlemen of the legislative Council , and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives—"At the Imperial Conference, which took )>lace in London last year, the Dominion was represented by my Prime Minister and my AttorneyGeneral. You will have an opportunity of discussing the-i transactions of that Conference on the papers to be laid before you during your ordinary session later in the year. "During this' special session, my Ministers do not propose to submit for . your consideration any legislation other than that of an urgent chnracI ter. I earnestly jpray that Proi vidence may guide tour -deliberations. , to the lasting benefit of this country and all classes of its people." HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On members returning to the Hfjuae > of Representatives, the new member* for the Western Maori - electorate, Mi* Taite Te Tomo, for whom J Mr 'J. Bitchener (R,, Waitatp), and Mr J. Ai Nash (R., Palmergton) 'asted at) sponsors, was formally sworn in.< - New Bills. 1 Notice was given" of Intention to introduce the following Billg-~*Local Elections.. and) Poll- Amendment (Mr H. t}. B. Mason), Death Daties Amendment {Mr W. J.' Poison), Gaming-Amendment (Mr y H. T; : Armstrong), ; Currency .BUI (Mr Mason), Crimes Amendment (Mr Mason), Property Law Amendment (Mr 'Mason), and' Bating Amendment (Mf Maspn). s. v i Quezon*. Mr W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier) asked the Minister for'BailWay a whether he -would arrange'for'a ppeeitft train -to convey members te the area .over the week-end. > The Hon. W. Ai' Veitph paid if W4 Barnard would inform his: hew ipany members desired to.make the. trip he would then ascertain ifrh&t would he the cost of a t>pecial traiii, or whether the ordinary train would be sufftcictil! .to meet requirements.- j Xr 1 Cobbe, tl^r as possible/ la *a« ilpdated &p Nfcrjih the registrar, paid regnlw to Napier. -There ft Naplen people IWicg^giq : «rTi&&£® whether member. WOUI4 ba civil portunity of discussing, the' of work on thb Midland Bailway, * if? JVbes tag Tjfcfore* the - sfesjfipn ,l ijrom3 of 'nr«flcyroft S r #Wtion3 dri^t.tfitll&.thft^ina#^ bj-sMK Viaeent. W^d was granted ten. dayis ©f couht 6t absenee -* s 3MCr:,A. 'fc-Jfal notice .of his inoviSj,/ 3lliS a respectful Ad seated \to his* Excellency the Gflvitn't or-General," s ,'y. intention to move, *ju- amendment- $e the Addrcss-in-Beply? offpetl^haj the • Government did - m>t /possess ,-i§e confidence of the House or the BOMtjy. . Motions of sympathy.." i Motions expressing the .'services rendered to and sympathy the relatives '-wert adopted in. respect the 'fpliowugi legislators who had .died'since the jsal session, of Parliaments ,Tho Hon. former Chairman of Committed of the Legislative Gouneil, the Htka, T. Shailer Weston, a taember lative Oeuneil, and!' Air Gcoftte' cM«pa, a former mejaber- for Pats« 4; „ - The Prime Minister, said late Mi Barr's sympathies had always lteeii yith. the workers end vith those whe were in difficulties;* •, ' * , The Bi. Hon. J, 1 G. 1 JpetUCei of the Opposition, 'aa|d ,Mr 'Bare yrat one of the finest men if had been- .l&t privilego to know. ' N Other members endorsed, their remarks, including Mr J. McCombs, Mr {C Holland, and D. G. Sullivafc. V' Referring to "Mr •T. Sh&ilec WeatijfL Mr Forbes said his genial would be missed at Parliament He had never failed to do his the benefit of the country. >- Mr Goates siiid New Zealand had losl a very fajthful, and a vejcy sound ant * useful citizen. , i -• 1 --Similar tributes paid by Mr W H. Held, Mr P. Fraser, and Mr K. 8 Williams. The' Prime Minister said Mr 43eorg< Hutchison was the first member of Pat Hament to sit in the House at the same fune as his father (Mr william Sot chison), and recalled the able manne in which tho former had participate in debates. r Mr Coates said the name of was strongly associated with the eatl; history of New* Zealand. Tribntes were also paid 'by'- Mr G. Dickie and Mr W. H. FicM. H , The House rose at 4 p.m. tiU pan.' to-morrow as. a xtaxk, of respaei t. Jto .deeeuod SjuktOß.