PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 114, 11 June 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Hon. Gentlemen ui me U-'gisiuui Council ana g<--nueuien 01 tue 110 a of Kvpreseutauves: —it is with uiiu pleasure 1 meet you again in Pariiaiuci assembled to state to you the causes i. waiclt you luivc been summoned. 1 a eiuitteu to assume thai you nave foiloi cd witn dost- and deep interest a statements oi ins .M.ijea..,) a Ministers I England as to Me pit-senc strength ai. ngnting efficiency or Uc iintisn .\a\ and mure particularly as to the exui sive cuanges in and to that navy loan to be necessary to cnaoie the iiiupire i maintain its greatness, not us cxistene in case of war. Tile gravity ui me oil look upon tue rapid growth of roreig naval armaiuents has impressed Use upon the statesmen of the United iun; doin, and Hi 9 Majesty's Ministers tuer nave outlined the naval prograuim which they deem essential to enaul Ureal Britain to retain her supreniac on tue seas. You have doubtless serious}; rellected upon the heavy burden wu.t. • the maintenance of the British .Nav; already imposed upon the Cmted King dom, and of the great additions wine! will be made to this burden by the nev programme. It is quite unnecessary ti remind you bow vitally we in thi Dominion are interested in the strengti and efficiency of that navy, or of on: obligations to Great Britain for the pro tectum now and always afforded to oui lives and liberties, and our prosperity trade and commerce by her fleets. 11} advisers, recognising not only the grav ity of the situation in which the rapk growth of foreign armaments lias placet! our Mother Country, but also the greal power of the burden upon her .people which the maintenance and strengthening'of her navy involves, decided that subject to ratification by Parliament tM& dominion should give a prompt and substantial proof both of its loyalty and its duty to the Empire, by the otter of a first-class battleship of the Dreadnought type. This offer has been 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 selfgoverning oversea Dominions have all evinced their loyal desire to »ee the Imperial navy so strong 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» Home government has called to a conference to be held in London in the last week of July, 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 ad-| risers 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 of a Dreadnought, that New Zealand should he represented at the ' conference by its Prime Minister. To enable the Prime Minister to be 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 be in his place here to carry on his important duties, and to nitioduce, explain, and if necessary defend the policy of the Government, and therefore to enable him to attend the conference an early prorogation of Parliaments essential.' Hon. Gentlemen of the House of •Representatives:—ln accordance with the usual custom, Parliament would in the ordinary course of events have been summoned for the last week of this month, and 'as yon are aware supplies have been voted to the thirtieth day of June. 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 and legislative authority asked ,to raise a sum of money, required to carry on certain public works. . Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of t'he House of Bepresentatives:—lt is not considered necessary bv my advisers that admeasures should lie brought before you except the financial proposals already indicated bv me as necessary to give .effect to what mv advisers deem the •wish of the people of New Zealand. That this Dominion should be represented at. the impending conference by its Prime Minister, I- trust that his attendance with that of the Ministers of the Crown from the other self-governing ■oversea Dominions, will result in a great and permanent scheme of Imperial naval defence, a scheme which by involving a closer partnership between us and the "Mother Country will draw us to her nearer still, and will express our kinchin in the- tangible and visible evidences of the part we take m toe defence of the Empire, and will above all, With the blessing of God, make for the permanent peace of the world.

THE DPESTNG PROCEEDINGS. V

•"" ' Wellington, Last Night. Shortly' before 3.30,, the hour i winch the Governor was to formal •open Parliament, a crowd gathered ou jfte Parliament Buildings to watcQi tl Spwoaert. of liis Excellency, escorted I - *he offlial guard of honor. Interest w ' ~~~2mn*rtet lessened by the fact that -. invitation*' were issued to Consuls ar, other* who usually grate the openn «remoßT. This was due to the lnnitc space in the new. Council Ohamo? Sere is only one small gallery, mainl devoted to the Press, and «in this a fe ladies iound accommodation, while tl lady members of his Excellency's hou=' fcold and a few'others were found sea ins accomodation on the floor of tl Chamber. As the Governor approachc, the usual salute was tired. His Exce Jemcy entwed the Council Chamber pr< .cisely at 3.38. accompanied by the on .cens of his staff and two 1 officers froi Challenger, and having sent for tl] inewvwrs of the House to attend in tl; CoumS Chamber, read the ,-peech. T! ufiole proceedings were over within fi teen minutes from the arrival of tb Governor. ' ' FOiRMAI. BUfcIXESS. SuSqnenUy tire Council met for foi anal business. The Hoifs. Ja». MeOmvan and C. 1 aiills,' newlT-appointwl member*, an J. Holmes and .1. llarfialJ (r appointed) were sworn in. Tlic Attornev-fii'iiera! made n bra reference to the death of the late Hon Heke and a motion of condolence t his son was passed. Toe Council adjourned until 10.30 th following morning. "H ~— jHtfUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JAW?: , *"Th« Ho««e met at 3.30. A number c metitions were presented asking the Gc - ■> "j?nt to procure suitable youn •■i : for fjouiestie service. 'i. Forbes gave notice of motion t move the Address-in-lieuly toniorrov Mr. Herdman gave notice of the in <*o(hs«!tinn of a Bill amending the Pul "i, • Service Act. ; "■• <J. «». Ward gave notice of motio: »or tbe next sitting day that Mr. Wi! ir.l be appointed Chairman of Commit •>«, and that tiie standing orders \, >. inW to allow tie Government bn»i >p to tie given precedence on Wednw. d»)s and Saturdays and Hat the Com • missfon on the timber industry be "rant ,cd permission to sit during the sUtii); 1 «of the Houee. Mt. llassey whether there \vn any probability of the Commission lie iing able to report during the presen session, and the Premier replied in th Mgatite. Tie Speaker put Sir Joseph Ward' \ motion that t!he members of the Com V- mission of the tinilber industry who ar members of the House 1« granted per : mi«irfon to sit during the present ses sion, and the motion wan Agreed to oi ithe rttitxs. BBferring to the .report of the. jnd{r» 5n the Dunedip North election- petition Mr. Jas. Alfen said steps should bi taken by the Government to prevent tin Joss of ballot papers. The Premier replied that in the casi j referred to, -tihe officers had taken ever; ■f step to sheet home the offence Withon •* "■ effect He would be glad to take iurthe] jk» •■ rteps in the direction indicated, > !|oj. ' The Eipiry Laws Continuance TJii ag'L '[ ww read a first time, on tile mrition o

the good work (lone by Heke for Laoj native race. Mr. Parata outlined Heku'si public career, and its aims. Hemes Xe| Kangihiroa also eulogised the late nicin-t her. I

Sir Joseph Ward moved the adjourn- 1 ] ment of the House till 10.30 to-morrow morning.

Mr. Masscy asked at what hour it was proposed to adjourn to-morrow. Sir Joseph Ward replied that the (iovcinuiciit would submit proposals to the House. It was not intended to ask the House to sit later at night that Jl o'clock. The House rose at 5.10.

ADJOURNMENT OF THE SESSION'. MEETING OF PROTEST. Wellington. Last Night. A meeting of protest against the°post- | poneine.it of Parliament is to be held at t'he Town Hall on Tuesday evening. The Mayor „il] preside, and all the Wellington city members of Parliament will speak. The meeting is the outcome of a. gathering of commercial and professional men held yesterday. Proceedings then were of a. private'nature, hut it !s reported that there was an unanimous opinion expressed that the postponement of the business of the country until September or October next, in order to allow the Prime Minister to go to London, was altogether an undesirable thing to do. It was resolved to put the matter before the citizens Heaice the meeting. Mr. W. F. Massey. when approached by the promoters, favored the idea .-f the meeting. The meeting yesterday agreed that the proceedings should be of the nature of a. citizen's' protest, and not associated .with the Opposition party as such. There k a probability however, of Mr. Massey .being one of the speakers.