THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 236, 28 June 1915, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH

DELIVERED IST PARLIAMENT. NO CONTENTIOUS MEASURES. WAR FINANCE AND PENSIONS. ‘ 1 Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives. — ' It is with pleasure that I meet you in Parliament assembled. During the session of 1911 Parliament was suddenly called upon to pass enactments of an exceptional nature to provide for circumstances which immediately arose or were anticipated consequent upon the outbreak of war. I am able to Inform you that most of suc.li legislation has been proved by experience to be efficient and has enabled my Government to meet and deal with the emergencies which have arisen up to the present. But in some respects it lias been found that this special legislation requires amendment and extension,-and measures will be submitted to you with that object. The preparation and consideration of the legislation to which I have referred formed but a small part of the novel and urgent duties which the existence of a state of war cast upon myself and my Ministers. The administration of the ordinary and regular business and affairs of the Dominion of New Zealand has -been attended to with care, but my Ministers felt that their duty and obligation to the Empire had become the paramount consideration and that the Parliament of New Zealand would recognise that the Imperial functions which in time of war devolve upon the Governments of the various dependencies of the Crown must claim their first and mosi urgent attention. As the representative of the Sovereign my time and that of ray personal staff has been largely occupied ■ in communication constantly necessary between the Imperial Government and that of the Dominion, and many duties not ordinarily incident to the work of the Governor of a self governing Dominion have fallen to be performed by myself. Each of my Ministers has been called upon to undertake duties foreign to the departments which he ordinarily controls. The officials of the Public Service and especially the heads of departments and the Public Service Commissioners have also been required to undertake much arduous and difficult work of the nature of which there has been no previous experience in New Zealand. My Ministers desire to acknowledge the loyal and public spirited support which has been given bj' all the servants of ihe Crown. The work of the military authorities and the Department of Defence has been the most strenuous and difficult, as it has been the most important. My Ministers feel that a special debt of gratitude is due from the Dominion *0 all those officers and imu-commis-sioned officers of the Imperial and of the New Zealand services ' who have yielded to their request to remain in New Zealand to guide and direct the training of our recruits. Only through their constant and diligent care has it been possible to bring the officers and men of the Expeditionary Forces to the

state of real efficiency which I am happy to inform you they have attained. The response of men of both races in this Dominion to the Empire’s call has been a source of pride and of satisfaction to myself and my Ministers. Not only have the men come forward in the numbers required, but they have cheerfully accepted the drudgery and hardship of training, and have been only to anxious to be ready at the earliest possibe moment for active service. You will remember that a section of the first Expeditionary Force was despatched in August last to Samoa. The German authorities surrendered to our force on the 20th August, and German Samoa has since ben administered under the direction of the Imperial Government, Colonel Logan, uf the New Zealand forces, being administrator in command of a garrison of New Zealand troops. ' The second part of the first Experitionary Force travelled via Australia to Egypt, Avhere the men were in camp for some months completing their training. Large reinforcements have been sent at intervals. The fifth left our shores during the present month and further reinforcements in largo numbers arc now training at the Trentham camp. Of the conduct, efficiency, and courage of our troops in aclon we have .every reason to be proud. Shortly after the New Zealand and Australian troops were landed at the Dardanelles, a gracious and most welcome message was received from His Majesty the King in the following terms: —“I heartily congratulate you upon tr;o splendid conduct and bravery displayed by the New Zealand troops at the Dardanelles, who have indeed proved themselves worthy sons of th Empire.— George R. ”, To which I replied as follows: —“On behalf of myself, my Government, and the. people of New Zealand, I desire respectfully to thank your Majesty for your most gracious message. We are all proud of the manner in which the New Zealand troops have acquitted themselvs, and we eagerly look forward to hearing further details of their operations in the Dardanelles.; —Liverpool.” There has been a long list of casualties, but we may rest asured that those who have fallen have done and those who are still in the line will continue to do their duty gallantly and fearlessly. You will be ashed to make duo provision by pension and otherwise for the families of those who have given their life’s blood, for the men who have become disabled in the service- of their King had country, and for their dependents, and J command this subject specially to you careful and generous consideration, k has been our privilege to take part wit! all the dependencies of the Crown ■>»><’ with the armies of our brave allieswith the armies of the United Kingdom and those of our brave allies in the Sniggle for liberty and freedom. Hidwe could not have taken that part, wc '•ould hardly have sent any for.?-' fn w our shores, had not the safety of mr transports on the seas been .ensured -by. the protection of His Majesty’s ships of the Imperial and Australian 1 squadrons conjoined with the- navies of out allies. To the navy we owe also our present sense of safety and security and the practical immunity of the high ways of our commerce from danger.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, —The Estimates have been prepared for your consideration with due regard to economy, but the abnormal expenditure consequent on the war has been and will continue to be very largo. .Doubtless you will determine that some proportion of the cost should bo provided from loan moneys. You will be called upon to consider measures fur the provision of that part which should bo supplied from revenue. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,—My Minis l tors arc satisfied that at the present juncture, when we are all united in onr determination to prosecute the Avar until an honourable peace is arrived at, no legislation the discussion of which would involve party strife should bo submitted to you. Tn addition to legislation arising out of and consequent on the Avar, to which I have previously referred, you Avill be invited to give your attention to such amendments of Ho existing statute luav as appear to be urgently required. will have in addition the measures of purely local interest which may bo submitted to you from the various districts of the Dominion. 1 tnist that Divine Providence may guide your deliberations to the adA'antage of our Sovereign, of his Empire, and of this Dominion.”