OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1924, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

GOYER.NOR-GENERAL’S SPEEC

(Per favor of Government)

WELLINGTON. June 2d The Governor-General, Lord Jellieoe, delivered the following speech, at the opening of Parliament to-day:— HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: The necessity for the attendance of my Prime Minister at the Imperial Conference and the Imperial Economic Conference in London last year, which had rendered it desirable to summon the General Assembly to meet at an earlier date than is customary, also led to the session closing before the usual time. In consequence, the recess has exceeded the normal norind. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. The resignation of Ilis Majesty’s Government, as the result of the general ( lection held shortly after the Imperial Conferences referred to, was followed by the accession m power of an entiretv new administration which has, in

sonic important matters, arrived at conclusions dilfcring from the resolutions passed by those Conferences. However much they may regret this result my Ministers recognise clearly lliat an administration whose Prime Minister, was not present, and which was not otherwise represented at the Imperial Conferences, must necessarily he absolutely free to determine whether it will or not support, in Parliament, resolutions pas.-cd at such Conferences. The policy of this Dominion, which provides special preference to British Empire trade. Mas adopted without request on our part for reciprocal treatment and remains unaffected. My Ministers will propose an extension of that preference by an increase in the proportion of- British production or manufacture which gives a title to the advantage in customs duties. THE ELEET VISIT.

The special service squadron of the Royal Navy, under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Eield, re-

ceived an enthusiastic welcome from Ihe people of Nom Zealand. The pre-

sence in our M-aters of so large a number ol Ilis Majesty’s ships, headed hy

llie magnificent battle-cruiser "llooil,” and the generous opportunity granted for public inspection, enabled many to appreciate the power of the great ser-

vice of which those ships form a pari, and to which Now Zealand has so recently owed the preservation of its trade and commerce during the war. In one ship of the -quadron. the light i rui-er “Dunedin. ’’ New Zealand has a special interest, since that vessel, of the most modern design, has been selected by the Admiralty to replace the ••( liatham” in the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy. I was also glad with mv Ministers to welcome Ihe presence in the squadron of the “Adelaide.” one of the ships ol the Royal Australian Navy. The subsequent voyage of the squadron along the coasts of the Western Samoa Islands, and its stay for a time oil" Apia. Inis allorded great satisfaction to my Ministers and to the administration of the Islands. It uas of special importance that the natives of Samoa should have the opportunity thus provided. BRITISH EM 1*11! E EXHIBITION. The British Empire Exhibition at Wembley recently opened by Ilis Majesty. is attracting great numbers of visitors, not only Irom the people ol Great Britain, hut also Irani all the territories of the Empire. The prinei-

pal object ol the Kxliibition to provide specimens of the products ol the various parts ol' the Umpire for the inspection ol those interested in the relative trades, will lie completely served • o far a.- this Dominion is concerned, by the efforts of our country to ensure a complete exhibit ol its products and | lily .Ministers have reason to hope that the financial resuli- udl not disappoint the Governments who have 1 ' rendered themselves responsible lor the large expem-e involved. M.v .Ministers availed t hemselves of I he voluntary services of a number of gent lenten ill New Zealand who agreed to act as an Advisory Council. The Dominion is much indebted to those gentlemen for the interest they showed ami the care and attention they gave to ensure the lull representation of our principal industries. On their advice Mr A. F. Huberts was appointed New Zealand Comcissioner to the Kxhibition. FT ATI'S OF AI.IKNS IN N.Z. The British Nationality and Status of Aliens in New Zealand Act ol uiur last session, which was reserved Tor 11 is .Majesty’s assent, lias recently received the Ibiyal approval and has become part ol the law ol New Zealand and is also now operative under our mandatory authority in Moslem Salima. DISCI IA l’C KD SOLDI F,I! SKTTLKHS. Verv satisfactory progress lias been made for the relief of discharged sol-dier-settlers by the Dominion Hoard established by the legislation of hist session. With the assi-tauce of the district Devaluation ('omniittees, the Hoard has been able to consider a very large iiiinihor ~i applications and my Ministers t ru~t it will be found that the process- ~( revaluation and reduction of rent and interest, and in some cases of capital, will enable Ihe ma--1,,,-ilv ol our discharged soldiers settle,l on the land to hmk forward to sureess with renewed hope. It lias for smite time been recognise,l that the main difficulty arises in cases where the land was purchased by the soldier? themselves from private individuals, with a first mortgage to the Crown for its advance and subsidiary mortgages to the vendors. In a number of instanees of this class the Hoard has been able to etfeet satisfactory arrangements as between the mortgagor and the soi oiul mortgagee.

STATIC ADYA.nCF.S. Tin* policy established by the -Vet. together with the approaching ternuoaTion of the general mortgages extension. necessitated the increase (provided by your Act of last session) of the maximum amount permitted under the State Advances Act from £2600 to £:jr,Ct) for settlers, and front £750 to £]•_>, jO for workers and the increase l,v cg.o.v I.ttto of the authorisation

of loans for advances to settlers and workers. Applications for advances have been received far in excess of the increased aiuhoi isation. I lie success ol the efforts ol the State Advances Department to tope with the itteteased demand is exemplified by the fact that during the financial year elided the 31st .Match loans to the amount of £3.066.202. "ere authorised and £6.200.1i86 actually paid. Further moneys are being supplied to the office at.d a contain effort is maintained to deal speed if v with all applications. M KAT F.XI'OHT. The effect of the Meat Kxport Control Act, followed by the Dairy Industry Control Act of your last session lias been satisfactory to the producers. The establishment of Boards with stain: • authority to negotiate tfor shipping and freights and to control the rate of supply to the markets abroad, has nlsillts.

ready provided many beneficial reThe fruit producers of the Dominion have indicated a desire for the establishment of it Fruit Industry Control Board, with similar powers aijd legislation with that object has been prepared and will he .submitted for jour cnpajdej’ntiop.

MAIN HIGHWAYS. The Main Highways Board has been established and lias done much valuable preliminary work, including the definition of a number of main highways. You will he asked to consider ways and means for providing sufficient funds to enable the important duties of the Board to he carried out. THE MORATORIUM.

The Mortgages Extension Acts expire at the end of the present year. It is not considered advisable to continue the automatic operation of extension beyond that period. The present Acts apply only to mortgages executed Iteforc October 1919. and there is reason to believe that the great majority of those mortgages have already been the subject of arrangement be-

tM'een the several mortgagors and jnort gagees. having the effect of excludin'

the statutory extension ; hut it is also believed that there are a limited number of cases where the immediate re-

moval of all protection might create considerable hardship to the mortgagors. My Ministers will therefore submit to you legislation which, while allowing the general protection to rx'irc at the end of the present year,

will entitle mortgagors who can prove special hardship to apply to a Supreme Court judge lor a further extension,

not exceeding two years. Under the 1 revioiis Acts the mortgagee has always had the right to apply to the Court for leave to exercise his powers, though very Ititle advantage has been taken o-f the statutes in that respect. Under the measure to he proposed to you, any mortgagor who desires an extension is compelled to apply to the Court for an opportunity to prove his case, and to satisfy tlifc Court that there are special reasons in his case which justify a brief extension. LAND LAWS. Tw,, measures of special importance which Mere in part Indore you last session. will, my .Ministers hope, be agreed to and become law during your present session. The first is a Bill to consolidate and simplify the land Jaws of the Dominion and the second a Bill to bring all lands of the Dominion under the J-rnvisions of the hand Transfer Act, without a definite period, with special provision lor the issue of provisional certificates in the case of infirm titles. COM MISS lON’S RE l ’OR TS.

Ml! SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF .REPRESENTATIVES.— The Royal Commission appointed to consider the system and incidence of land and income taxation in New Zealand has presented a unanimous report, which in due couise will he laid upon the table of your House. The report of another Commission appointed to consider the teflcct of the forestry reserves upon the revenues of local bodies has also been recived by me and will be made available for your deliberations.

THE SURI’M'S. The receipts of revenue during the hist financial year have been satisfactory. Economy has been practised in all departments, the result being that the accounts of the year closed with a surplus of £1.812..‘Ki11. P roposals •or certain remissions of taxation will ho .submitted. HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. . Two specially qualified gentlemen RAILWAY ENQUIRY. Irom England are at present engaged investigating tile conditions appertaining to tlu> railways of New South Wales. Mv Ministers propose to take advantage of their presence in Australia to institute a Royal Commission, of which they Mill lit- members, to carry out an exhaustive euquiiy into the M’liolc system and control of our Now Zealand Railnay--, and to advise thereon.

l-TSHI.NG RIGHTS. The subject of fishing rights in the interior Maters of the Dominion has l-cen under the consideration of my Government. Legislation is necessary to prevent llie sale of sia-fi rights, whether in gross or a.s utiaehed to riparian owneriiship, and especially to prevent the acquisition by persons not resident in the Dominion of piover |o exclude others from certain waters. A hill having those objects Mill be laid before you. Aly .Ministers anticipate tlntr you may find it necessary to postpone finally settling the whole subject matter pending a special investigation into tile nature and existence of the rights, hut that you limy consider it sufficient in tin* meantime to prohibit anv such dealings. OTHER. BILLS.

rti addition to the legislation I" which I have made special rclcrcnce. von will have submitted for consideration along with other measures, hills dealing with the Stamp Laws, the Chattels Security Acts. Motor Yell lefts. Copyright. Public Works. F.duention. Defence, Local Bodies Loans, War Funds. Police Offences. Public Debt Deduction.

TKDM OF Or KICK. Mv term of office as (fovermn-Gen-eral of New Zealand will expire at the end of ,September next and I shall he leaving the Dominion towards the end of November. The .severance of the ties which have, with ever increasing .strength, hound me in close attachment to the people ,»i New Zealand "ill cause me the deepest possible regret. Our sojourn here has been a time of great interest and of unalloyed happiness to Iter Kxcelleucy and myself. As the representative of His Majesty. I have wit net-set I. with the keenest satisfaction, the spirit of fervent. loyally to the Throne and F.tnpire. which is so marked a characteristic nf the people of New Zealand, and of which so many proofs have I icon given. 1 have watched with great i (ensure the increased production and the growth in trade of the Dominion, and the manner in which recovery Irom the aitermath of war has been ejected, is a subject for sincere congratulation. The birth and development of the New Zealand divison of the Uoynl Navy during my term of office and the high standard attained by the recruits entering the service, have been of much interest to me as a naval otfieer.

To the past and present members of tla> two Houses of the Legislature with whom I have been associated I hog to express my deep appreciation of their uniform courtesy and consideration. t should like to take this opportunity nlso of voicing my warmest gratitude T-i the people of the Dominion for their exceeding kindness to Her Kxcelleucy. to myself and to the metuliers of our family. The future prosperity of New Zealand, the welfare and happiness of its people will ever he matters of profound interest to me.

Finally. I express the earnest hope that Divine Providence may guide your deliberations and further the welfare of the people of the Dominion.