PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1918, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION,—COPYRIGHT.] OPENING TO-DAY. . WELLINGTON, This Day. For the fifth time in its history, and for the first time fof twenty-one years. Parliament will meet this year iu the month of April. The opening ceremony will he performed sit 2.30 o’clock this afternoon by His Excellency the Governor-Genera]. The majority of members have arrived. The weather is wet and gloomy. is likely to militate against a largo attendance of the public.

THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. His Excellency Lord Liverpool, Gov-ernor-General of New Zealand, delivered the following speech : Hon Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of' Representatives:

The Imperial Government, having informed the several Governments of the Overseas Dominions nd Dependenflies of His Majesty’s desire that, an Imperial Conference, and meeting of the Tmpm-ial War Cabinet should be held in London during the present year, my Ministers have advised me Ito convene the present session of Parliament. You will be invited to consider the proposal that my Prime Minister and Minister of Finance should renresent New Zealasd at the Imperial Conference and War Cabinet., and to make provision tor tht> financial requirements of tin* Dominion during their absence. During the present session, the legilatin to he proposed by my Ministers will be limited to the financial exigencies of the Dominion, and such other matters as demand immediate attention, consequent on war conditions. A second session of Parliament, will be convened later in the year for the transaction of general business and for the consideration of such legislation as may then be conidered necessary in the public.interest. The present moment probably marks the crisis of the war, in which the Empire has so long been engaged. The British Empire, with our Allies, is defending civilisation and the liberties of the world against the tremendous efforts of an enemy whose victory would moan the, triumph of unscrupulous tyranny. Our own brave soldiers are with the men of the Mother Country and other portions of the Empire, in the line .which faces the enemy on the Western Front, ns - well as on other battlefields. We are well assuredthat the courage and endurance of our Armies, now tried to the utmost, will not fail in the present or in the future. We have O’e record of the past three years to justify that confidence.

T do not doubt that both branches o'' the Legislature, speaking and acting for the whole people of the Dominion, will join with my Government, in tlieir determination that a still further effort on onr part is necessary to ensure th ° t New Zealand shall continue to assist to the utmost limit of our resources, of men and material, the Mother Coimtov in the righteous war in which she engaged. I pray that Divine Providence may guide your deliberations.