OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 49, 25 June 1915, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. By Telegram, 4 p.m. WELLINGTON, This Day. The following is tin Governors Speech, delivered in the House of Representatives this (Friday) afternoon:— Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gertiemen of the House ot Representatives.— It is with pleasure that 1 meet you in Parliament assembled. During the Session of 11)14, Parliament was sudd-clv called upon to pass enactmcntß of an excepti nal nature to provide fur circumstance? which immediately ar S3 or were rnticipated censeqiient upon the outbreak of war. I am abl: to inform yrj that most *of such legislation has been proved by experience to be efficient and hjs enabled my Government to meet aid deal with the emergencies which have arisen up t) the present But h tome respects ic has be n found that this special legislation requires amendment and extension, and measures will be submitted to you with that object. The; preparation and conFideratioj ot the legislation to which I have referred formed but a small part of the nov.-l and urgent duties which the existence nf a state cf war cast upon myself and my Ministers. T. e admmislraticn of the ordinary'ar.d regular business and affairs of the Dominion of New Zealand has teen attended t) with care, but my Kinist r.s felt thut their ! daty and obligation to the Empire | has become the paramount consideraj tion and that the Parliament of New j Zealand would recognise that the I Imperial functions which in time of war devolve upon tie Governments of the various dependencies of the Crown must claioi their first and iriiEt urgent attention. As the representative of ihe Sov reijn rry time andthat of my person:-! staff]hPß been largely occupied ir communication contta itly nec ssary b:t'.-eeii the Imperial Government and that of the Domi ion, and many duties not ordinarily incident to the work of the G.vernor of a self-governing Dominion have fallen to te pe"-fo-rned by myself. Each cf my Minsters has been called upon to undertake duties foreign to the Depsrtnrnts which he on: ina-i I y ontrols. The officials of the Public Service, and especially the heEds of Df paitmenta and the Public Seivice Commissio eis, have also been required to undertake nu:h arcutm snd difficult work of the i.ature of which there has been no previoui expetknee in New Zsehr.d. My Ministers desire to acknowledge the loyal and public spirited supj.ott which has been given by all the servants of the Crown, ihs wurk ot the Military Authorities and oi the Department of Defence has been the meat strenuous and difficult as it has been Us most important. My Ministers feel that a special debt of gratitude is due from the Dominion to all these officers of Impeii&l and of New Zvaland services who have yielded to their request to remain in New Zealand to guide and direct the training of our recruits. Only tnrouph their constant and diligent care has it been possible to bring the officers and men of Expeditionary Forces to the state of real efficiency which I am to inform you they have attained, 'l'he response of man of both ranks in this Domrion to the Empire's call has been a source ol pride to tne people cf New Zealand and of satisfaction t) myself and my Ministers, Not <nly have the men come forward in numbers required, but they have cheerfully accepted the- drudgery and hardship of tra'n- ! ing and have ben only too anxious to be ready at'th: earliest possible moment for active service. You will remember that a s ction of the first ! Expeditionary Fo ? ce was dispatched j in August las' to Samoa. 'lhe German authn:i;i;s surrendered 'o our force on the 2t)t'i day of August and German Samoa has eince been administered under the direction of | the Imperial Government, Colonel I cf the Ne» Zealand Forces i beinsr Aministrator in command r f a garrison of New Zealand troops. ] The scccr.d part ot the First Expedij lionary Force travelled via Australia | to Egpyt, where the men were in camp ! for some months completing their training. Large reinforcements have been smt at intervals. Ihe fifth left our shores during the present month, and further reinforcements in large numbers are now training at the 'l'rentham camp. Of the i conduct, efficiency courage of our troops in action we have every reason to be proud. Shortly after the New Zealand and Australian troops were landed at the Dardanelles a gracious and mojt Welcome message was received from His Msjeßty the King, in the foil wing terms "1 heartily congratulate you upon the splendid conduct and bravery displayed by the New Zealand troops at the Dardanelles, | who have indeed proved themselves worthy sons of the Empire.— George K." To whijb I replied as follows "On behalf cf myself, my Government and the people of New Zealand '1 desire respectfully to thank Your Majesty yfor your most graciouß message. We arc all proud of the manner in wbieh the New Zealad troops have acquitted themselves, and we eagerly look forward to hearing further details of the operations in the Dardanelles. Liverpool." There has been a long list of casualties, but we may rest assured that those who have fallen have done, and those who are still in the line will continue to do their duty gallantly and fcarhssly. You will be asked to make due provision by pensions and otherwise for the tamilies of those who have given their lives, and for the men who have become disabled io the service uf the King and Country and for their dependents, and i commend this subject specially to your careful and generous consideration. It has been our privilege to taKe part with all the dependencies of the Crown, and with the armies of the United Kingdom, an.l those of our brave Allies, in the ttruggie lor liberty and tree Government. Hut we could not have taken that part, we could hardly have sent any forje tiom our shores, had not the safety of our transports on the seaa been ensured by the protection of His TMajesty's ships of the Imperial and Australian Squadronß, conjoined

with the navies of our Allies. To the Navy we owe el.-o cur present sense of safety and Eccurity, and the practical immunity of the highways of our commerce from danger Gentlemen of the Houbc of Repreßentaivep, The Estimaes have been prepared for your conßiderattioD witb due regard to economic but the abnormal expenditure, consequent on the war, has been and will conttinue to be very largo. Doubtless you will determine that Borne proportion of the cost should be provided lrom loan moneys. You will be called upon to consider a measure for the provision ot that part which should be supplied from revenue. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— My Ministers are satiilied that at the present juncture, when we are all united in our determination to prosecute the war until an honourable peace is arrived at, no legitlation the discussion of which would involve party strife should be submitt d 1o jou. In addition to legislation ari-ing out of and consequent on the war, ti which I have previou-ly ref.rred, you will be invited to give your attention to such amendments of the existing Statute Law as appear to ba urgently required. You will have, in addition, the measures of purely lo al interest which may be sub-' rnitted to you from the various cistiicts in the Dominion. 1 trust that Divine Providence may guide your deliberations to the advantage of our Sovereign, of his Empire and of this Dominion.