The Governor's Speech.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 June 1915, Page 3

The Governor's Speech.

. , »- AS DELIVJSRED US , nAULIAMENT TO-DAY.

The Chronicle is indebted to the Government and the 'Levin Telegraph Office for 'the following telegraphed report of the speech delivered in Parliament to-day by His i&celency the Governor;— "Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.—>It is with pleasure that 1 meet you in Parliament assembled. During the session of 1914 Parliament was suddenly called upon to pass enactments of an exceptional nature to provide for circumstances which immediately arose or were anticipated consequent upon the outbreak of war. . 1 am able to inform youi that most of such legislation has been proved by experience to be efficient, and has enabled my 'Government to meet and deal with emergencies which have arisen up to t'he present. Hut in some respects it iias been found that this special legislation requires amendment and extension, and measures will bo submitted to you with that object. The preparation and consideration of the legislation to which 1 have referred formed but a small part of the novel and urgent duties whicjj the existence of a state of war cast upon myself and my Ministers. The administration of the ordinary and regular business and affairs of the Dominion of New Zealand has been attended to ■with care, but my Ministers felt that their duty and obligation to 'the Empire had' 'become the paramount consideration, and that the Parliament of New Zealand would recognize that the Imperial functions which in time of war devolve upon the Govedi'ments of the various Dependencies of the Crown must claim their 'first and most urgent attention. As the representative of tiie Sovereign, my time and that of my. personal staff nas been largely oecupie din communication constantly nee essary between the Imperial Government and that of the Dominion ; and many duties not ordinarily incident to the work of the Governor of a selfgoverning Dominion have fallen to "oe performed by myself. Each of my Ministers lias been called upon to undertake duties foreign, to the Departments which lie .ordinarily controls. The officials of the Public Service, and especially the Heads of Departments and the Public Service Commissioners, have also been required to undertake much arduous and difficult work, of the nature of which there has been no previous experience in New Zealand. My Ministers desire to ac-_ knowledge the loyal and public-spirited support which has been given by all the servants of the Crown.

The work of the military authorities mid of the Department of Defence has l>een the most strenuous and difficult, as it lias been the most important. My Ministers feel tlliat a special debt of gratitude is duo from the Dominion to all those officers airff /ion-commissioned officers of the Imperial and of the New Zealand .Services who have yielded to their request to remain in New .Zealand to guide and direct the training of our refill its. Only through their constant and diligent care lias it been possib'e to bring the officers and men of the Expeditionary Forces to the state of real efficiency which I am happy to inform vou tliev have attained.

Tlie response of both races in this Dominion to the Empire's call has been a source of pride to the people of New Zealand, and of satisfaction to myself and my Ministers. Not only have the men come forward in the numbers required, but they have cheerfully accepted the drudgery and hardship of training, and have been only too anxious to be ready at the earliest possible moment for active service.

Of the conduct, efficienc yand courage of our .troops in action we have every reason to be proud. Shortly after the New Zealand l and Australian troops were landed at the Dardanelles a gracious and most welcome message was received from His '.Majesty the King in the following terms: "I heartily congratulate you upon the splendid conduct and bravery displayed hy the New Zealand troops at the Dardanelles, w'lio .have indeed 'proved themselves worthy sons of the Empire.—George R.' To 'whiicli 1 replied as follows: —"On behalf of myself, my Government, and the peope of New Zeaand. i desire respectfully to thank Your Majesty for your most gracious message. We are all proud of the manner in which the New Zealand troops liaive acquitted themselves, and we eagerly look forward to hearing further details of the operations in the Dardanelles. —Liverpool."

There has been a long list of casualties. but we may rest assured that those who have fallen have done, and those who are stiill in the line, will continue to do, their duty gallantly and ifearlessly.. You may be asked to make due provision for the families of thosi who have given their lives, and for the men who have become disaibled, in the service of their Iving and country, and for their dependents; and I commend this subject specially to your careful and generous consideration. It has been our privilege to take part iwitli all the Dependencies of the Crown and with the armies of the United Kingdom and t'hosc of our brave Allies, "n the struggle for liberty. aiid "free government. But we could not have taken that part, we could hardly have sent any Force from our shores, had not the safety of our transports oil the seas been ensured hy the protection f His Majesty's ships of the Imperial and Australian Squadrons, conjoined with the navies of our Allies. To the Navy we owe also our present sense of safety and security, and the practical immunity of the highways of oivr commerce from danger.

The estimates have been prepared for your consideration with due regard to economy, but the abnormal expenditure consequent on the war has been, and ■will continue to be, very large. Doubtless yon will determine tliat some proportion of the cost should be provided from loan moneys. You< wiTI be called upon fo consider measures for the provision of that part winch should be supplied from the revenue.

My Ministers are satisfied that at the present juncture when we are all united in our determination to prosecute the war until an honourable peace is arrived at. no legislation the discussion of which would involve party strife should be submitted to you. In addition to legislation arising out and con-

sequent on the war, to which I have previously referred, you will Ibe invited to give your attention to suoli amendments of the existing statute law as to be urgently required. You will have, iii addition, the measures purely local interest which may be submitted to you from various parte of the Dominion. I trust that Divine Providence maw guide your deliberations to the advantage of our Sovereign, of his Empire and of this Dominion.