Opening of Parliament.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 29 June 1917, Page 3

Opening of Parliament.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. Parliament v/as, opened yesterday. The Governor's speech was as follows: lon Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives. It is with pleasurel meet you in Pariament assembled. In recognition of ;h3 services rendered by New Zealand since the outbreak of war and to mark :be statuß of the y Dominion, a signal nark of Royal favour has been recenty extended in the bestowal by His tfajesty the King- of the dignity »nd title of Governor-General upon nyself. I regret to say that death has renoved one of my advisers, the late Hon. 3r M'Nab, who held the Portfolios of Tußtice, Marine and Stamps. During the recess the course of the jreat war has been definitely in favour )f the Emp : re and its Allies. The Imjerial navy true to its past history is nesting new and difficult conditions as hey arise with courage, resource and mccess. It is specially gratifying to lote that the transport of our regular reinforcements has proceeded without nterruption and happily without loss. Imperial troops have exercised conitant pressure on our enemies, driving ;hem from many elaborately prepared positions. Bagdad, the old high-way :rom West to East, is in the possession >f British and Indian troops This nakes it possiMe in settling terms of aeace to prevent developments on the J»rt of our enemies designed to disturb jur peace in the future. The land wees of His Majesty's dominions be,'ond the seas have been honored with inportant tasks on several battlefields, and they have invariably proved that the quality of their courage, endurance and descipline fitted them to Babt beside their gallant comrades of the British regular army. The battle of the Somme, the capture of Bapaume, Vimy Ridge, Rafa and the recent storming of the German lines at Messine3 and Wyescbaete, in which the troops of the various dominions took so large a part, give assurance that in whatever further tasks may be allotted to them they will not fail. All New Zealand.has been stirred hy the story of the capture of Messineß by the brave men who left our own shorn

In the early part of the present year Germany adopted a policy of unrestricted and indiscriminate submarine warfare. The development has failed in its principal object of reducing Great Britain and France to submission by starvation, but the large addition to the number of German submarines has increased the danger of shipping and the number of losses, with the result that the Imperial Government has found it necessary to requisision for Imperial necessities ships formerly exclusively engaged in the carriage of produce from <he dominions to the Mother Country. The consequent reduction of the ordinary facilities for the export of New Zealand produce, especially frozen meat, wool, butter ai;d cheese, bus occasioned ineonveni-

ence and anxiety, and has been the subject of constant communication between my Ministers and the Imperial Government It is impossible to forecast the tonnage which will be available for New Zealand shipping, but there is reason" to hope that the position may prove more satisfactory than was at one time anticipated. In common with every other part of the Empire this Dominion is deeply impressed by, and grateful for the determination of the great Englishspeaking people of the west to assist the cause of freedom and right. It would be difficult to measure the material, financial and moral support which the United States has- already provided, and will provide in the future The administration of tbe occupied Samoan Islanas has been efficiently carried out, and there is every reason to believe that the native population is happy under British control, and has no desire, to revert to the conditions which prevailed prior to the occupation by New Zealand troops. I have recently informed my Ministers that the Secretary of State for the Colonies has assured me that the Imperial Government fully realise the vital importance to this Dominion of the destiny of the German colonies in the Pacific, and that when the time comes for decision the fullest consideration will be given to the wishes of the New Zealand Government.

Voluntary recruiting has been conducted with considerable buccbbs. Sin n e last November it has been insufficient to provide the reinforcements required, and it therefore became necessary to bring the Military Service Act into operation. The loyal and whole hearted support of the act by the people of this country has been of incalculable.assist

ance to my Ministers. The men drawn in the ballot have also given their ready response to the call for service and removed most of the difficulties which might have been expected at the initiation of a system without precedent in New Zealand. A new departure has been made in the establishment of the National Efficiency Board. The gentlemen composing the Board, and many others comprised in the origination, have gratituously given their time and experience to the State, and I feel sure that their patriotic services are fully appreciated by the people of this dominion! .

At tbe invitation of the Imperial Government responsible statesmen of the Dominions and of India met re cently in England to confer on tbe present difficulties and future constitution of tbe great empire to whicb we belong. The presence of our Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance at the Imperial Conference has enabled them- to obtain information of value to my Government and to this.

i dominion. The presence of my Ministers with the responsible Ministers of other dominions at a meeting of the War Cabinet was an event remarkable iin our history. It indicates the recognition by tbe Imperial Government of the growth of the dominion, the responsibilities of the empire, and the right of the dominions to representation where issues vital to their safety and success may be under consideration, i

I have been glad within tbe last two days to welcome home my two Minuteis and their families, and am confident you will find the course of f your deliberations simplified and facilitated by the experience they have | gained not only in Great Britain but at the seat of war on the western front. - Mr Speaker and Gentlenian of the House of Representatives. You will find in the public accounts of the past year and the estimates for the present year proof that economy i has been and is befng exercised. In every department of the State the war expenses must of necessity increase, but this increased expenditure is essential to give effect to our determination that New Zealand shall bear her full part until victory is gained. In the present session you will be askedi to determine what part of those expenses shall be met by loan raised within the Dominion. Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives. The existence of a National Government prohibits the inclusion in the programme of legislation to be proposed to you by ministers, of other measures than such as are necessary to enable the country to carry out its obligation to assist in bringing war to an early successful conclusion. You will there-, fore be invited to devote your attention to legislation dealing with the present emergencies of this dominion and of the Empire as a whole, and provision of means to meet our financial obliga--tions. I trust that Divine Providence may guide our deliberations to the advantage of our Sovereign, of this empire and of this dominion. ; ]