LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 531, 11 June 1909, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

OPENING BY COMMISSION. FORMAL BUT,BRIEF. Although the ceremony of opening Parlia- , ment by Commission is formal to a degree, it is shorter than most occasions for formality. Yesterday the antiquo usages wore performed in about ten minutes. The Legislative Council Chamber was well filled with members of the Council, and a few ladies' Here piesent in the gallery, when the official who bears tho striking title of "the Usher of the Black Rod" pronounced in his most formal tones,' "Tho Honourable Commissioners." The Commissioners then filed slowly in at the head of the Chamber, and took their scats before the crimson curtain. Thoy were tho Hon. C. 0. Bowen (Speaker of the Legislative Counoil), the Hon. Dr. Findlay, representative of the Government in the Council, and the,Hons. T. Kelly T. Thompson, S. Thorne-Georgo ; and G. M'Lean. The Chief Commissioner (the Hon. C. C. Bowen) proclaimed that his Excellency tho Governor, "not thinking fit to be personally here at this time," had been pleased to cause a Commission to bo issued in order to tho opening and holding of Parliament. There was then an interval of several minutes, during which a number of members of the House, boaded by the Primo Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and membors of the Cabinet, responded to the formal in- ■ vitation to attend and hear the letters patent read appointing the Commission. Tho Chief Commissioner then stated that his Excellency the Governor, "not thinking fit to bo present, has caused .letters patent to be issued constituting us a>i"a Commission to do all things necessary to be done" for tho opening of Parliament. The letters patent, couched in stately language, 'were then read. The Chief Commissioner next announced to' the members of both Houses that on Thursday, June 10, "at half after three of tho clock in tho afternoon," his Excellency the Governor would declaro to them in person the oauses of his calling Parliament together. It being necossarv, however, .that a Speaker of the Houso of Representatives be first chosen, his Excellency requested members of tho House of Representatives to repair to tho place whero they.ußuallv sit, and there proceed to the election of a fit and proper person to fill that high and important aflire. ■ s' The proceedings then terminated. • SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. A DIMINISHED SPECTACLE. A fair number of spectators gathered before tho Parliamentary Buildings early jesterday afternoon to mow the arrival of\ his Excellency the Governor, whoso Speech was to bo delivered at 3.30, p.m. Tho Horetaunga Rifles provided an escort for his Excellency, and a salute was fired by a detachment of tho Permanent Artillery. ' Except for the Governor's party and a number of wives of Ministers and members who ■found places m the small gallerj, tho proceedings insido tho Legislative Council Chamber wore not viewed by tho public. Tho ■ Speaker of the Council (tho Hon. C. C. Bowen) received the Governor, who was in his most resplendent uniform, attended Jby his nides-de-oamp." Tho Speaker handed beautiful bouquets to hor Excellency Lady Plunket and Lady Ward, after which the Governor delivered his Speech. . V ! THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. DREADNOUGHT, AND' NAVAL' CONFER- * x ' ENOE. His Excellency said: Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative i Council, and Gentlemen of tho Houso of Representatives,— i It 19 with much pleasure I meet jou again in Parliament assembled to state M you the cansos for which you have been summoned. I am entitled to assume that you have followed with close and.doen interest tho statements of his Majesty's" Ministers in England as to the present strength and fighting efficiency of the Bntish Navy, and moro particularly as to the oxtensivo changes in. and to, that navy, found to bo necessary to enable the Empire to maintain its greatness, if not its existence, in case of war. The gravity of tho outlook upon tho rapid growth of foreign naval armaments has impressed itself upon the statesmen of tho United Kingdom, and his Majesty's Ministers there have outlined tho naval progr»mme which they s doom essential to enable Great Britain to retain her supremacy on the seas. You havo doubtless seriously reflected upon the heavy burden whioh tho maintenance of the British Navy already imposes upon tho United Kingdom, and.of tho great additions which will be mado to this burden by the now naval programme. ' It is quite unnecessary to remind jou how vitally we in this Ddmimon aro interested i m the strength and efficiency of that navy, or of our obligations to Groat Britain for the protection cow and 'fthvajs afforded to our lives and liberties; and our property, trad*, and commerce, by her fleets. (, i Th« Hattleshto Offer. My Advisors, recognising not only the gravity of the situation in whioh the rapid growth of foreign naval ■ armaments has> placed our Mother Country,' but also the great weight of the burden upon hor people whwh the maintenance and strengthening of bcr navy involves, decided that, subject to

ratification by - Parliament, this Dominion should giye a.prompt,and substantial proof both of its loyalty,and,its duty to tho Em-WTei-by iiho-..offer,.of a ■ first-class battleship of: tho Dreadnought typoi ....-.This.offer has been.graciously accepted by' his Majesty's Homo. Government, >" and to make tbe.gift .effective you will be asked to .ratify it..- : /- - ■ r -,v >~.. ; \-;\ ■ V .Since this .offer, was ..made, his Majesty's solfrgoverning ; oversea... dominions have all evinced .their, loyal iesire.to see the Imperial Nayj. so jsJTohgtfened as to secure that supremacy, of .the seas upon which the Empire ; has: risen to its present.greatness, and upon which /that fgreatness now depends.' ■_.In.;. these, circumstances,. his Majesty's Home Goveniineni; has called toa Naval Conference, to' be. held in London in the last week in July next, responsible representatives of, all the self-governing-'dominions, with a view to concerted and "united action boing taken throughout .the-Empire for naval supremacy and naval, defence. '. . Tho importance of this conference, not only .to,the...TJnited Kingdom itself, but to all his Majesty's dominions, .has been recognised by .Ithe-jeadixiess-, with,-which ibach self-governing ■State has .agreed, 7 to send .'■.'.;;Tho'-Prim6. Minister of New Zealand will attend ithis conferencej'_as*rny Advisers deem it expedient,,:not only, in' view of the importance of the.conferencc'to this Dominion and view of.the new. part this country .has"assnmod in Imperial its'offer of a Dreadnought,, that New' Zealand; should Be represented <at the oonirerenoD by its. Prime' Minister.. . v '" : :: ■ '.: .1J! To, enable the Primo Minister to bo present ;in;London:.fof.:tliß'opening of the conference, :he;jnusti:leaye ; Ne,w..Zealand in a short time, .and .cannot'return before the end of- September, next..-;; -.'•',:,'• "'■';"", This ybcing--the.: first' session ;of a new Parliament,' my Advisers deem it necessary that' while.the, session lasts the Prime Minister should be in his place here to carry on his-important jduties, and to introduce, explain/ and; if'necessary, defend >the policy of the. Government; and,;.therefore,,to enable him ,tp:.atten'd'jthe conference an'earl; prordgation~of Parliament is essential,' Hononrable.Gontlemen of the Honse of Re/...//pi'esentatives,— .-\; '.'.ln accordance with'the. usual custom, Pariiament.'.iwould/in the .'.ordinary course, of. ■events .h'ave'ibeen. summoned for the last week of .this.'month; and, as--you'-are aware, sup-,. June'instant'.;'. In view''.'of the circumstances, arid, tho coarse I have already referred to,:, proposals for .an extension of the appropriations : toj : a;suitable date will be submitted for-, vojir. consideration. A statement showing' approximately the : financial position l .;of, the Dominion', will be placed before jou, and iegisl'ative authority, asked to. raise' a sum of money required<to, carry on certain publio 'works.'.;/;;.-"-.';.- ;'■'..!■„■•:.■>.. .■ ■;■.'■..''••,-•'■'■■ financial : ':-%''; i Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative !;':';\v Council,*; an<j Gantlemen;of the House of, !'; ; ..'Representatives,—:.'. '.;,'.'" ' .'•' It is not considered by my Advisers'.'hat any measures should be brought before you ex!,copt tho. financial; proposals already.indicated •'by me:asi,nccossary to give effect to what my Adyisers''deem, the wish 'of-the'-.people of New Zealand/that this Dominion-should be ■ represented i'atrtbe impending conference by its Prime Minister.":'■"..'- ,• I,trust;.th4t';his attendance.with that of the:;Ministe'rs'. of, the; Crown from the other self-governing' oversea "dominions, -will result in a great and permanent.'scheme of Imperial naval defence—a, scheme. which, by {involving a 'closer .partnership .between- .us and ■■; the Mother' Country,-, will draw us' to her nearer .stilly and/will'//express'our kinship in the tangible 'aid , visible .evidences .of .the part we take in the Empire, and will, above all, with the blessing ,of God, make for the ipertnanent peace of the world. TRIBUTE TOTHE 1 LATE MR. HONE ~;';,;V..j;',.V:":^HEic-E.;; . ;:-.-''.,'■-:;. ' , ; After/the' Speech/from the Throne had. been delivered,'' ".ahclV ; :His ■ Escbllenoy the Governor -and',party, and the .other distinguished' visitors had withdrawn from the Legislative'.Council 'Chamber, - the Speaker .(Hon. :CrC. Bowen) took tho,chair. , By message from' the 'Governor, notification was received that the'seats of/'the Hon. James'Holmos/ of-Hdkitika, and the Hon. Jas. Marshall,..of'Grojfrhcrath, ,had become vacant, throtiigh.;,effluxion. of/timo;. also that bothhadabesn/rfeaptointedj- and that in addition: the Hon. Jas. M'Gowan, of tho .Thames, and the 'Hon., C..C. Mills, of Wellington, bad'"been" ajppoihtetl 'to the' Council. These members'then took ;the oath and their seats: '•-■:■■ .'■..'"■■■■ . - .... . ■-, ; .The-ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Dr. Findky) 1 moved. without ■ leave : as follows:— . j :■'.'•"■"That/thi's'-?Coun'cil?records its high ' ;'',.senso.'bf;-the ; faithful services rendered to |; Now. Zealand by the : late Mr. Hone Heke, : member, of .Parliament', and the loss tho ■'. Dominion, has: sustained'' by his 'death, ■• l:;and: ; respeotfully,-.tehders to his relatives its assurance'iof .its : sincerest sympathy ■■ ;-, with.them in their bereavement." ■ Dr. Find Jay said that:he felt.sure every member shared with him the regret, that ho felt at the death of/a/personality so gracious [.and genial as that'.of/Cihe late Hone Heko. The .deceased,, heicoatiniied, represented' tie I highest graces' race to which he belonged. . HePhagrihoWn eonsrjicuously how intelligently aid-; with/what polish one of the Native race other. members in tha'.'PaTliamentj'itake'part in the discussion on'every publio/questioii that came up. Ho felt sure that hi was/-voicing the feelings of members when--ho.--said..that the disappear-; ance fr,om.;.pnblic;lifo" arid from the face of the earth'. of-'HonS'-'Hek© would bo a' loss whioh would 'be:long felt. He concluded: ".Wo'all regret: tho death atao early an age of one whoso life was so full of promise." ■;. The-motion,was'then agreed to, and it was fiirthetf iresblv'e'd.'.thftt at its-rising-: the Council :adjon'rn until 10.30 to : day, as a mark' of Tespect to the -memory of iho deceased Tho HON;; J. M'GOWAN gave notice'of his -.'lntention to move'the Aadress-in-Reply morning. .''' . : The Council,: then ; adjourned. '-■■•' /. ■ '