PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1915, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. dominion and the war. new zealand's part rkyiewei). iikavy, war expenditure. no party measures. Wellington, June 25. In opening Parliament this afternoon Ids Excellency the Governor, Lord Liverpool, said: —• Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives—

It is with pleasure that I meet you in Parliament assembled. During tile session of 1014 (Parliament was suddenly called upon to pass enactments of an exceptional nature to provide for circumstances which immediately or were anticipated upon tlie outbreak of war. I am a;ble to inform you that most of such legislation lias been proved by experience to he efficient, and has enabled my (loverument to meet and deal with tiie emergencies which have arisen up to the present. But in some respects it has been found that this special legisla-. tion requires amendment and extension, and measures will Ibe 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 which the existence of a state of war east upon myself and my .Ministers. The administration of the ordinary and regular business and affairs of the Dominion of Xew Zealand has been attended to with care, but my Ministers 'felt that their duty and obligation to the 'Empire had llieconic theparaI mount consideration, and that the Par- ' Lament of New Zealand would recognise 1 that the Imperial functions which in time of war devolve upon the Governments of the various dependencies of tlie Crown must claim their first and most urgent attention. As the representative of the sovereign my time and that of my personal staff has been largely occupied in communications constantly necessary between tlie Imperial Government and that of the Dominion, and many duties not ordinarily incident to the work of the Governor of a self-go-verning Dominion have fallen to lie 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 pulblic service, and especially the heads of departments and the iPnblic 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. Mv (Ministers desire to acknowledge the'loyal and public-spirited support which has been given by all the servants of the Crown. Tlie work of the military authorities and of the Department of-Defence, lias been the most strenuous and difficult as it has been the most important. My Ministers feel that a special del.it of gratitude is due from the Dominion to all those officers and non-commissioned officers of the Imperial and of the New Zealand sen-ices 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 T 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 to the' people of New Zealand and of satisfaction to myself and my Ministers. Not only Wave the men come forward in the numbers required, but they have cheerfully accepted the drudgery and hardships of training, and have been only too anxious to be ready at the earliest possible moment for active service. You will remember that a section of the first expeditionary force was despatched in August last to .Samoa. Tlie German authorities surrendered to our force on August 29, and German Samoa has since Nieen administered under the direction of the Imperial Government, Colonel Logan, of the Now Zealand forces, foeing administrator in command of a garrison of New Zealand troops. The second part of the. -first expeditionary force travelled via Australia to Egypt, where 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 large numbers aro now training at the Trentham camp. Of t'ie conduct, efficiency and 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 most welcome message was received from his ''Majesty the 'King in the following terms: "1 heartily congratulate you upon the splendid conduct and Ibravery displayed by the New Zealand troops at the Dardanelles, who have indeed proved themselves worthy sons of the Empire.—George R." To which I replied as follows: "On beJialf 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 themselves, and we eagerly look forward to hearing further details of their operations in the Dardanelles. —Liverpool.'' There has 'been a long list of casualties, hut we may rest assured that those who have fallen have done, and those who are utill in the. line will continue to do, their duty gallantly and fearlessly.

Yon will be asked to make due provision liy pension and otherwise for the families of those who "have given their life's blood, for the men who have become disabled in the sen-ice of their King and and for their dependents: and T commend this subject specially to your careful and generous consideration. ft has been our privilege to take part with all the dependencies of the Convn and with the armies of the United Kingdom and those of our brave 'Allies in the struggle for liberty and freedom. Rut we. could not have taken that part, we could hardly have sent any force from our shores, liad not the safety of our transports on the seas been ensured by the protection of his Majesty's ships of the Imperial and Australian squadrons

eonjoi-ie 1 with 'tlie navies of our Allies. To the Navy we own also our present souse of safety and security and tlie practical immunity of tlie highways of our commerce from danger.

Gentlemen of tlio House of Representatives—

Tlie Estimates Oiave 'been prepared for your consideration, with due regard to economy, lint the aliuornial expenditure consequent en the war has been, and will continue to be. very large. Doubtless yon will determine that some ]ii'oportion lit" the cost should lie provided from loan moneys. You will he called upon to consider measures for the provision of that part which should lie supplied from revenue.

Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House, of Representatives—■

My Ministers are satisfied, that at the present juncture, when we are all united in our determination to prosecute the war until an honorable peace is arrived at, no legislation the discussion of which would involve party strife should be submitted to you. ' In addition to legislation arising out of and consequent on the war, to which I have previously referred, you will be. invited to give your attention to such amendments of the existing statute law as appear to be urgently required. You will have in addition the measures of purely local interest which may lie submitted to you from tlie various districts of the Dominion. T trust that Divine Providence may guide your deliberations to the advantage of our Sovereign, of his Empire and of this Dominion.