Opening of Parliament.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 August 1919, Page 4

Opening of Parliament.

THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH?

WELLINGTON, Aug. 28. Parliament was formally opened this afternoon when His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Liverpool delivered the following speech from the Throne: — "The Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

I last addressed you at the opening of your fifth session of the present Parliament on the 24th of October, •1918. Though the victory of the Allies appeared to be assured, one only of our enemies, Bulgaria, had then laid down its arms and submitted to- the acceptance of the terms which the Allies might dicTate. From that date onwards, until the 12th November,. 1918, when the news was received of the signing of the Armistice with Germany, our enemies in swift succession sued for peace. The invitation of the Imperial Government to this Dominion to send its representatives to the Conference met with a ready response from both Houses of this Parliament, and my Prime Minister and the Minister for Finance left immediately after the close of your last session to attend that Conference, and to take a not unimportant part in the deliberations of that great assemblage of statesmen. Your present Parliament, the members of the House of Representatives for which were elected in the year 1914, a few months after the beginning of the great war, would have in the ordinary course expired at the end of the year 1917. Its existence has been prolonged by statute until the end of this year, and, therefore, with the exception of the occupation of German Samoa and of the dispatch of the first expeditionary force to Egypt and Gallipoli, all the events of the war especially affecting New Zealand have taken place during the existence of the present Parliament, which has been called upon to deal with the affairs of the Dominion under unexampled difficulties. By the extension by the wish of the Sovereign, my own term of office, I have had the honour of being His Majesty’s representatice during the whole period of the war, and, looking back with youi over those years of trial, I feel that I may join you in the proud memory that this Dominion has never faltered in its determination to give and continue its support to the utmost of its power to the cause of the Empire, and that no promise made by New Zealand to the Imperial Government remains unfulfilled by this Parliament and the Government of this Dominion, and that our soldiers have, by their splendid courage, discipline, and conduct, won a name for themselves and a place for New Zealand in the annals of the greatest of wars. I am sure you will join with me in the deepest sympathy with those whose sons and relatives have fallen, and with the many who have returned maimed and wounded to their homes,... My Ministers recognise that the first duty of the Government and of Parliament in the i\ew era of peace is to the men who have fought for us, and. to the relative. 4 of the men who have fallen 1 ir. our scivice. During, the past three years your legislation has been confined to urgemt matters arising I from the war, and to minor amendments of existing general and local statutes. My Ministers recognise that as there remain only four months of thj life of the present Parliament, and as your session must, therefore, be of short duration, the legislation to be submitted for your consideration should be limited to matters of urgency which, cannot be postponed for the consideration of the new Parliament. Although the work of repatriation and training of returned soldiers has proceeded smoothly and satisfactorily, the measures which you have passed in previous sessions providing for repatriation and for assistance to soldiers in various occupations, and especially for the acquisition of land for their settlement, have in some respects proved to be insufficient, and (amendments of the existing laws on these subjects have been prepared, and will be submitted to you. The Mortgages Extension Act, anfi its amendments expire on the 31st of the present month and require immediate attention, and be asked to pass with as little delay as possible an Expiring Laws Continuance Act, which will extend-'the operation of those acts for a further period. You will later be requested to consider iU Amending and Consolidating Act, continuing for a certain period the existing limitations upon the powers of mortgagees, and defining a time whetf these limitations upon the powers of the mortgagees, and defining e time when these limitations may be safely removed. Bills amending the Government Railways Act, the Labour Laws, the Workers’ Dwellings Act, the Discharged Soldiers , Act, The Land Laws, the Mining Act, the Coal Mines Act, the Chattels Transfer Act, The Post and Telegrapli Act, and others have been prepared for your considerations v -<-'w >». ,v

Initiatory steps are being taken in regard to the Mangahao and Arapnni scheme. The purchase of the Horatora plant and transmission lines from the Waihi Gold Mining Coy. has been satisfactory completed. The acquistion of the Hora hora installation will enable the farmers of the Waikato and surrounding districts to be supplied with electric power as soon as the reticulation lines can be erected. New Zealand has not entirely escaped the ■unrest which is prevalent in. many other countries of the world and which is the aftermath of the Great IWar, but I am confident the good sense and industry of the citizens of the Dominion will more than counteract any attempts to spread the pernicious doctrines whimh have proved so mischievious in certain European countries. The failure of the supply of coal has caused my Government much anxiety during the recess, and my Ministers trust that you will find time sufficient to enable you to consider fully the position. The shortage has been due to two causes, firstly, the reduction of the output from New Zealand mines, and secondly the difficulties of supplementing that supply by cargoes from Australia. There is now good ground for hope that one of the reasons which has prevented import from Australia may be shortly removed, but a deficiency of shipping exists, and to a certain extent must for the present continue. My Ministers view With anxiety the conditions which leave the Dominion dependent upon sources of supply of coal from other countries.. At the present moment the freezing chambers are full of meat, the property of the Imperial Government, on account of which millions of money have been paid by the Government, and every obligation of honour and duty requires that while such meat reniains in store, coal shall be supplied for the efficient continuous working of the freezing industry. It has been found necessary to cut down the railway service to an extent which has caused great inconvenience to‘ the public and loss to the industries of the Dominion. The loss of revenue consequent upon that reduction has been most serious, but that loss constitute? by no means the principal ground of the present anxiety of the Government. The supply for every household has been necessarily curtailed to a limit which has caused general inconvenience and considerable suffering during the winter months. My Ministers hope that some satisfactory basis of arrangement may be arrived at under which by increasing the production of existing mines and opening Hew mines the Dominion may become self-reliant in the provision of coal for its industries and its homes.

Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the. House of Representatives. The sums granted by Parliament for repatriation and land settlement of our soldiers have been found to bo wholly insufficient to meet the requirements, My Ministers have felt that it is impossible to delay the process, and they have therefore in anticipation of your support expended moneys and entered into obligations largely in excess of the amounts authThe public throughout the Dominion has united in endeavour by cordiality of welcome to every transport carrying returned soldiers to emphasise the general sentiment that what our soldiers have done for us demands in return from us the utmost that we can do for them. Such obligations cannot be met wholly from revenue, and my Ministers do net doubt that you will cheerfully grant them the borrowing powers they will propose and confer your authority to raise necessary moneys. With regard to ordinary revenue and expenditure, you will find that the authority granted in your last session has enabled my Government to carry on the business of the country beyond the period when in ordinary years supply ceases. The estimates for th e remaining part of the year ending the 31st March next have been largely prepared under the supervision of Ministers lately controlling the several departments, and will be submitted to you by my present Ministers subject to such revision as is possible within the very close limit of time available to them for the purpose.

Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, —I congratulate you on the occasion of your assembling for the first time in this chamber. Though you -will not be able to hold your deliberations of the present session her?, I trust that this place may before your next session be so fitted and eqippcd as to be fit for the due performance of your important duties.

Honourable 'Gentlemen Of Legisla.tive Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,—The visit of the Admiral of the Fleet, Viscount Jellicoe, to New Zealand is an event of far more than ordinary importance. One part of the great trust imposed upon him by the Imv Government is that of subject; of naval ■defence of the Commonwealth and of this Dominion, and offering advice to the respective Governments, The wider subject of the British interests in the Pacific and provision for their

. genera] defeuc/e and protection >vill also have his consideration. The appointment of one so distinguished for the purpose marks the importance of the duties entrusted to him. My Ministers hope that his inquiries and reports will have the effect of removing many j difficulties, and enabling both Imperial j and Dominion Governments concerned . to more clearly appreciate the dangers of the present system and the future, and the best means of united prepara- | tion to meet them. During the recess | I paid an official visit, accompanied by j the Hon. Pomare, Minister in Charge, j to the Cook Islands, including Niue. I j was received everywhere with great cordiality, both by natives and Europeans, and was glad to note many improvements effected in the Islands since my first visit in the year 1914, especially in the increase of facilities for the education of the natives. At the request of the Imperial Government, I j proceeded thence to Samoa, where I also met with a, cordial reception from the natives of those islands. I desire to report the gratitude of myself and my Government for the hospitality accorded to me and to the Hon. Dr. Pomare by the Governor of American Samoa, at Pago Pago, and by His Excellency the Governor, of Fiji at SuTa < It was necessary to call at both of these ports for coaling purposes. I commend the matters to which I have referred to your earnest consideration, and I trust that Divine Providence may guide you in your deliberations. ■ THE OPENING CEREMONY. WELLINGTON, Aug. 28. The sixth session of the nineteenth Parliament in the history of the country was opened at 2.30 p.m. to-day by His Excellency the GovernorGeneral, Earl Liverpool. The ceremony was attended by the Countess of Liverpool, Admiral of the Fleet (Viscount Jellicoe) and staff, Lady Jcllicoe, and the usual gathering of military officers and the public. An unusual incident, prior to the arrival of His Excellency was necessitated by the resignation and re-appointment of the Leader of the Legislative Council during the recess. Sir Francis Bell, on his introduction before Excellency arrived, said to the Speaker of the Council: During the recent recess I resigned my scat in the Council. His Excellently the Gov was pleased immediately to j reappoint me to be a member of the | Council, as the warrant I now produce j testifies, and for the better order of j this day’s proceedings His Excellence ; has been pleased to himself administer ; to me the oath of allegiance pre- ! scribed by the Constitution. I " — 1 *• i LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. j i The Speaker 0 f the Legislative Conn, j cil resumed the chair 15 minutes after ( the departure of His Excellency the ; Governor-General. |

Sir Franeis Bell gave notice that he would ask for leave to introduce the Mortgages Extension Act, 1919, the Public Authorities (Party Walls) Empowering Act, 1919, Official Documents and Appoints Act, 1919, and Chattels Transfer Amendment Act. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30,' almost immediately afterwards adjourning to the Legislative Council to hear the Governor's Speech read. On resuming at 3.5 the Speaker announced that the Palmerston and Wellington South seats having become vacant, and Messrs J. A. Nash and Robert Semplc having been elected to fill the same, he called upon those members to come forward and take tne oath, which they duly did, the former being sponsored by Messrs Newman and Pearce, and the latter by Messrs Walker and Veitch. ' Mr W. A. Veitch presented a petition from Mr J. M. Mack on behalf of the Amalgamated Society orf Railway Servants praying that the Minister's power of veto over decisions of the Railway Appeal Board be abolished.

Mr Massey gave notice for leave to introduce the Women’s Parliamentary Rights Extension Bill.

. Replying to Mr Glover, the Minister of Defence said it would only he a matter of a few days, or perhaps hours before his scheme for soldiers’ gratuities would he laid before the House.

Mr Brown (Napier) gave notice to ask the Premier if lie proposed to introduce some system of proportionate representation or some other substitute for the second ballot.

Replying to Mr Witty, the Hon. Guthrie said there was ample provision either to remit a year's rent or to capitalise the same in cases where the land is settled by soldiers too late to get the year’s crop in This is now being done in many cases, where land was settled at what may be called the wrong season of the year. Each is being considered on Its merits. Mr Hine gav e notice to ask the Minister of Defence *f in fixing the amount of soldiers’ gratuities, he will do so on the basis of a flat rate. Mr Massey moved formally the first, reading of the Expiring Laws Contin-

, 1 uance Bill, which was agreed to on the voices, and at 3.49 the House rose till 2.30 to-morrow. SOLDIER SETTLEMENT. QUESTION IN THE HOUSE. (By Telegraph.) 1 WELLINGTON, This Day. Mr R. W. Smith, M.P., gave notice ir. the House yesterday to ask the Minister of Lands if, during the presuit session, he will introduce legislation to make available for returned soldiers the land lying to the north of ■ the Retaruke Stream, on the left bank | of the Wanganui river, and now vested 1 in the Wanganui River Trust. j