MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9468, 10 June 1909, Page 4

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

Per Press Association. Wellington, Jnne 10. A canons of Government supporter presided over by the Premier, was attended by 44 members and seven othe r s were accounted for. The Premier intimated that after careful consideration he intended to propose Mr Guinness as Speaker, and Mr Wilford as Chairman of Committees. The other gentlemen who had olaims for consideration bad kindly intimated their desire to make the way clear for the members named. Explaining the business to he discussed he said there would be a Loan Bill. It would be necessary to increase the unauthorised expenditure, but every item would be on the Estimates when Parliament resumed. The matter of Government’s offer of a Dreadnought would also be brought forward. Parliament was formally opened at 11.30 in the iLegislative Council Chamber by a Commission composed of Messrs Bowen, Findlay, McLean, George Thompson and T. Kelly before a fair attendance of members. Mr Bowen read the Commission and members immediately returned to the Lower Mouse.

The House met at 11.45 and proceeded with the swearing in of members. Mr Duncan nominated Mr Guinness for the Speakership, and Mr Hannan seconded the motion. No other nominations were made, and Mr Qninnesa returned thanks, and took the chair, Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Massey having congratulated him on hia re-appointment’. The former moved the adjournment till 3.30 to allow the Speaker to submit himself to the Governor for approval and the House rose at 12.30. / THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. On re-assembling this afternoon the Governor delivered his Speech as follows: — Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen |of the House of Representatives:— It is with much pleasure 1 meet you again in Parliament assembled to state to you the causes for which you have been summoned. I am entitled to assume that you have followed with close and deep interest the statements of His Majesty’s Ministers iu England as |to the present strength and fighting efficiency of the British Navy, and more particularly as to the extensive changes in and to that JNavy, 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. They have outlined the naval programme which they deem essential to enable Great Britain to retain her supremacy on the seas, and 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 new 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 tint subject to ratification by Parliament this Dominion should give a prompt and substantial proof both of its loyalty and L ifcs duty to the Empire by the offer of a firstclass battleship of the Dreadnought type. This offer baa 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 oversea Dominions have all evidenced 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 to a Naval Conference, to he held in London in the last week in July next, responsible representatives of all the self governing 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 Jof a Dreadnought that New Zealand should be represented at the Conference by its Prime Minister. To enable the Prime Minister to he 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 he in his place here oat 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: 1 In accordance with the usual custom Parliament would in the ordinary course of events have been summoned for the first week of this month, and as you are aware supplies have been voted to the thirtieth day of June instant. 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,- ami legislative authority asked to raise a sum of money rfquired 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 ary measure:, ebeal !

he brought before you except the financial proposals already indicated by means necessary to give effect to what my advisers deem the wish of the people of New Zealand that this Dominion should he represented at the impending Conference by its Prime Minister. I trust that hie attendance with that of the Ministers of the Crown from the other self-governing oversea Doimnions will result in a great and prominent scheme of Imperial naval defence, a scheme which by involving a closer partnership he ween us and the Mother Country, will draw us to her nearer still and will' express our kinship in the tangible and visible evidence of the part we take iu t e defence at the Empire, and will above all with the blessing of God make for the permanent peace of the world.