PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 12 June 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.

The opening of Parliament by Commission, election ot a Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Governor’s Speech took place on Thursday afternoon, with due formality. The Governor’s speech was as * follows:—

Honourable gentlemen of the Legislative Council and gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— It is with much pleasure that I meet you again in Parliament assembled to state to you the causes for which you have been summoned. lam entitled to assume that you have followed with close and deep interest the statements of his Majesty’s Ministers in England as to the present strength and fighting efficiency ot the British Navy, and more particularly as to the extensive changes in, and to that navy found to be necessary to enable the Empire to maintain its greatness, if not its existence, in case of war. The gravity of the outlook upon the rapid growth of foreign naval armaments has impressed itself upon the statesmen of the United Kingdom, and his Majesty’s Ministers there have outlined the naval programme, which they deem essential to enable Great Britain to retain her supremacy on the seas. You have doubtless seriously reflected upon the heavy burden which the maintenance of the British Navy already imposes upon the United Kingdom, and of the great additions which will be made to this burden by the naval programme. It is quite unnecessary to remind you how vitally we, in this Dominion, are interested in the strength and efficiency of that navy, or of our obligations to Great Britain for the protection now and always afforded to our lives and liberties and our property, trade and commerce, by her fleets. My advisers, recognising not only the gravity of the situation in which the rapid growth of foreign naval armaments has placed our Mother Country, but also the great weight of the burden upon her people which the maintenance and strengthening of her navy involves, decided that, subject to ratification by Parliament, this Dominion should give a prompt and substantial proof both of its loyalty and its duty to the Empire, by the offer of a first-class battleship of the Dreadnought type. This offer has been graciously accepted by his Majesty’s Home Government, and to make the gift effective, you will be asked to ratify it. Since this offer was made, his Majesty’s self-governing over-sea Dominions have all evinced their loyal desire to see the Imperial navy so strengthened as to secure that supremacy of the seas upon which the Empire has risen to its present greatness, and upon which that greatness now depends. In these circumstances, his Majesty’s Home Government has called a naval conference to be held in London in the last week in July next, responsible representatives of all the selfgoverning Dominions, with a view to concerted and united action being taken throughout the Empire for naval supremacy and naval defence. The importance of this conference not only to the United Kingdom itself, but to all his Majesty’s Dominions has been recognised by the readiness with which each self-governing state has agreed to send representatives. The Prime Minister of New Zealand will attend this conference as my advisers deem it expedient not only in view of the importance of the conference to this Dominion and to the nation, but also in view of the new part this country has assumed in Imperial Defence by its offer of a Dreadnought, that New Zealand should be represented at the conference by its Prime Minister to be present in London for the opening of the conference. He must leave New Zealand in a short time and cannot return before the end of September next. This being the first session of a new parliament, my advisers deem it necessary that while the session lasts" the Prime Minister should be in his place here to carry on his important duties and to introduce, explain and, if necessary, defend the policy of the Government and, therefore, to enable him to attend the conference an early prorogation of Parliament is essential.

Hon. gentlemen of the House of Representatives, in accordance with the usual custom, Parliament would in the ordinary course of events have been summoned for the last week of this month, and as you are aware, supplies have been voted to the thirtieth day of June inst, in view of the circumstances and the course I have already referred :to. Proposals for an extension of the appropriations to a suitable date will be submitted for your consideration. A statement showing approximately the financial position of the Dominion will be placed before you and legislative authority asked to raise a sum of money required to carry on certain public works. Hon. gentlemen of the legislative Council and gentlemen of the House of Representatives, it is not considered necessary by my advisers that any measures should be brought before you except the financial proposals already indicatd by me as necessary to give effect to what my advisers deem the wish of the people of New Zealand, that this Dominion should be represented at the impending conference by its Prime Minister. I trust that, his attendance with that of the Ministers of the Crown from the other self-governing over-sea Dominions will result in a great and permanent scheme of Imperial

Naval Defence; a scheme which by involving a closer partnership between us and the Mother County will draw us to her nearer still and will express our kinship in the tangible and visible evidences of the part we take in the defence of the Empire and will, above all, with the blessing of God, make for the permanent peace of the world.

Members were sworn in. Mr Guinness was elected Speaker for the third Parliament in succession, and received the congratulations from the Premier and Deader of the Opposition. The Timber Commission, which includes members of Parliament, was granted permission to sit during the session of the House.

The Expiring Laws Continuance Bill was introduced and passed its first reading. The Speaker announced that he had received a proclamation notifying the Royal assent to the Shipping and Seamen’s Act. The Prime Minister moved a motion that the House records its regret at the loss by death of the faithful services of Mr Hone Heke, member for the Northern Maori District, and respectfully tenders to his relatives an assurance of its sincere sympathy in their irreparable loss. The House adjourned out of respect to the memory of Mr Hone Heke until 10.30 a.m. the following day.

Weeungton, June 11.

The House met at 10. 30. Mr Herdtnan, in introducing his Bill dealing with the Public Service, said the object was to remedy the existing abuses. The service was stuffed with officials totally unable to carry out their duties. A board should be instituted to deal with the public service. The unsatisfactory state of th« police force in Wellington was due to political influence. The Premier denied the sincerity of the Opposition in proposing reforms- They had made demands on the Treasury amounting to several millions. He denied that the retrenchment scheme was an admission that there had been a waste iu the past. The Main Trunk line had necessitated an enormous number of officers who were not needed being dismissed. If a non-political power was set up it would be like a judge of the Supreme Court and superior to Parliament. The responsibility of the Government in the matter of retrenchment was great, but it would put the financial position of the country on a sound basis. He denounced attempts made to create, the impression that New Zealand was on the verge of bankruptcy. Mr Massey denied that the Opposition had attempted to damage the credit ot the country. It was the action of Ministers themselves. Mr Hogg, for instance, had advocated paper money. He defended Mr Herdman’s action and denounced the present system as vicious and corrupt. There wasintense dissatisfaction with the railways. They were not paying and it was political influence which interfered. He did not suggest going back to Commissioners. There should always be a Minister for Railways. Mtessrs Fisher, Wright and McLaren and the Hon. Duncan also spoke, and the Bill was then ordered to be read that day fortnight.

NOTES. Among the questions handed in to Parliament yesterday was the following What steps, if any, are being taken to cleanse the police force of the Dominion, and exercise greater care in the selection of men for this important department ?” Mr Poole, who asks the question, adds that the recent developments have made the public mind uneasy, and unless the greatest care is taken there is a chance that order and safety will be things of the past. According to Mr Jennings, member for Taumarunui, some alteration of the present condition of affairs, with regard to the liquor question, in his electorate is necessary. Yesterday he asked the Prime Minister whether he would, in view of the number of convictions of persons for alleged sly grog-selling and the recent granting of wholesale licenses in the electorate, grant to the residents the right of voting local option the same as is extended to electors of other electorates throughout the Dominion. It was pointed out by Mr Jennings that the necessity for an alteration had been shown at public meetings addressed by persons connected with the temperance cause, and by newspapers published throughout the Dominion. Mr Field is to ask the Minister of Eands whether it is true that the report of Dr Cockayne on sand-drift in New Zealand, which is anxiously looked for by all settlers in sand-infested districts, is only a partial one, and if this is so, why a complete report on this highly important subject was not obtained. Mr Field will also put the following question to the Postmaster-General: When is it intended to proceed with the erection of a new post-office at Shannon, the money to defray the cost of which was voted by Parliament last session ?

Mr Newman (Manawatu), made his maiden speech in Parliament yesterday. In speaking on the Ad-dress-in-Reply he said he heartily supported the Dreadnought offer. It have had a great moral effect throughout the world. From its geographical position, etc., New Zealand was admirably adapted for a naval base. Sir Joseph Ward was, in his opinion, the right man to represent New Zealand at the

Defence Conference. It could not, however, he contended that the proposal to adjourn Parliament was in the interests of the country. He was not in favour of stopping borrowing for the development of the back country. Until the back blocks were roaded and bridged, the expenditure on the public buildings in the .cities should be curtailed. Two of the chief causes of the depression were as follows: (i) Restrictions on the investment ot capital and industry ; and rating on the unimproved values. If the Government wanted to bring about a better condition of things, it should in future give the option of purchase to Crown tenants, and so increase the number of exporters. . By the adjournment of Parliament, a great injury would be done to the people, especially those in the country district. In the House yesterday afternoon Mr Forbes moved and Mr E. H. Taylor seconded, the Ad-dress-in-Reply. Mr Massey moved an amendment that a clause should be struck out of the address, expressing approval of an early prorogation. The amendment was seconded by Mr Hardy. The debate is being continued.