Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3692, 30 June 1906, Page 3

Parliament.

THE FORMAL OPENING CEREMONY.

Parliament was formally opened by His Excellency the Governor, Lord Plunket, on Thursday afternoon, and after the delivery of his speech and other formal business, both houses adjourned till next day, as a mark of respect to the deceased Premier, Mr Vile, and Hons. Kenny and Pinkerton. his excellency's speeches. Honourable Members of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,—

My pleasure at meeting you in Parliament assembled is marred by the death of my late chief adviser, the Right Honourable Richard John Seddon, who for more than thirteen years occupied the position of Prime Minister of this colony. His long and uninterrupted tenure of that high office, unparalled, I believe, in the annals of the British dominions, is the most convincing proof of the confidence reposed in him by the Parliament and people of New Zealand. It was, however, not in colonial affairs only that Mr Seddon achieved a position of great eminence and responsibility, for, apart from the services he rendered to New Zealand, his ardent devotion to the great cause of the unity of the Empire made him a noteable figure in the domain of Imperial politics.

The universal sorrow and sympathy evoked throughout the Empire show that his strenuous

advocacy of great Imperial and democratic ideals was appreciated in other lands than our own, and it is fitting that, as the King’s -epresentative, in the presence of the representatives of the people vhom Mr Seddon served so faith* ully and so long, and in whose service he died, I should bear testimony to the loss which has been sustained by his untimely death,

At my feci nest the Honourable vVilliam Hall-Jones undertook the i.ormatiou of a Ministry, which has now assumed office.

Gentlemen of the House of Repre-

sentatives,—-

I am happy to be able to inform you that tbe Estimates passed last session of Parliament to cover the expenditure of the then current financial year proved amply sufficient, and that the year closed with a surplus of receipts over expenditure. My advisers believe that with prudent administration there is every reason to anticipate that the financial results of the current year will be equally satisfactory. You will be invited to consider \ proposals having for their object the extension of appropriations to a suitable date. i

Honourable Members of the Legis- ’ lative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representa- • tives, — |

I congratulate you upon the continued proofs of the strength of the colony’s financial position, and also upon the substantial progress made in its chief industries, which is shown by the continued increase in the volume of exports. It is my; earnest desire to cooperate with you in all that may promote the welfare and prosperity of New Zealand, and I trust that, with the aid of Divine Providence, your labours may result in the well-being and happiness of the people,