OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1921, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

GOVERNOR GENERAL’S SPEECH. (Per favour of Government). WELLINGTON, March IU. Parliament was opened this afternoon 1 at 2.30 p.m., by His Excellency, the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe. L‘ His Excellency delivered tlm follow- • ing speei-h , Honourable Gentlemen of the LogisB lat-ive Council, and gentlemen of the :• House of Representatives : Addressing you in Parliament as- < scmbled to-day, for the first time since 1 my assumption of the office of GovernI or-Gcneral of New Zealand, 1 wish to s assure you of my sincere desire to co- - operate with you in all your efforts to > advance the prosperity ol this Dominion, and to promote peace and goodwill among its people. During the visits which 1 have been privileged to pay to the principal towns and to some of the country districts of the Dominion. I f have been deeply impressed by the ' spirit of loyalty to the Crown, which 1 js so greatly in evidence, and by the cordial welcome extended to me as His Majesty’s representative. The Imperial Government have informed the several Governments of the Overseas Dominions and dependencies, of his Majesty's desire that the Tinperill Conference should he held in Lon- ' don in the month of .Tune of the present year, and that it is of the most imI ortanoe that the Prime Ministers of . the British Dominions should he present in person. Afy Ministers have accordingly advised me to convene the present- session ‘ of Parliament, and to invite your consideration of the proposal that my Prime Minister should represent New Zealand at the Conference. It will also he necessary to make pro- * vision for the financial requirements of the Dominion during his absence. Tin* > legislation to be submitted to you will t be limited to the statutory extension of > the appropriations, the continuance of certain expiring laws, and some mat--1 ters which may not, without causing inconvenience, stand over. A second session will be convened ’ later in the year for the transaction of ‘ the ordinary business of Parliament. Afy Afinisters believe that bon. members of both branches of the Legislar tore recognise the gravity of the matters which must he considered at this 1 Imperial Conference, and that it is - essential that the Prime ATinisters of ' the self-governing Dominions should take a personal part in the discussion i imd determination of the questions, which involve the relations of the latter 1 to each other, and also the relations of the British Commonwealth as a whole, with the other nations of the world, so that there may be no question as to the continued cohesion of the Empire itself. ; I pray that Divine Providence may ■/uide your deliberations.