PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3212, 11 June 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

FORMAL OPENING. . By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 10. Parliament was opened by Commission this morning, and the Governor delivered his speech at 3.30 o'clock this afternoon. GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Plunket) delivered the following speech : "Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: It is with much pleasure I 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 gravity of the outlook of the statements of His Majesty's Ministers in 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 Navy 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. You have doubtless seriously reflected upon the heavy burden y/hich 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 ueople, which the maintenance and strengthening of her navy involves, decided that subject to ratification by Parliament, this Dominion should give a prompt and substantial proof both of its loyalty and its • duty to the Empire by the offer of a firts-class battleship of the Dreadnought type. This offer has 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 has been graciously accepted His Majesty's self-govern-ing oversea Dominions have evinced their loyal desire to see the Imperial Navy strengthened so as to be sure of their supremacy of the seas upon which the Empire has been raised to its present greatness, and upon which that greatness now depends. Iu the circumstances His Majesty's Home Government has called a Naval Conference to be held in London in the last week in July next, of responsible representatives of all the self-govern-ing 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 thi3 Conference, as my adWsers 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 as- j sumed in Imperial defence, by its offer of a Dreadnought, that New Zealand should be 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 and 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 in- i troduce, explain, and, if necessary, J defend the policy of the Government i' and therefore to enable him to at- j tend the Conference an early proro- i gation of Parliament is essential.

"Honourable Gentlemen of the House of Kepresentatives: In 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 you are aware Supplies have been voted to the 30th day of June instant. In view of the circumstances, and the course I have already referred to, proposals for an extension of the appropriation 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 certaiu public works.

"Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: It is not| considered necessary by my advisers that any measures should be brought forward before you except the financial proposals already indicated by me, as necessary to give effect to what my advisers deem the wish of the people of New Zealand, that this Dominion should be repre : sented at the impending Conference by its Prime Minister. 1 trust that the attendance of the Ministers oZ 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 close partnership between us and the Mother Country will draw us to her nearer still, and will express our kinship in the tangible and visible evidences of the part we take in the defence of the Empire and will above all, with the blessing of God, make for the permanent peace of the world." The whole proceedings were over within 15 minutes from the arrival of the Governor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met for formal business. The Hons. James McGowan and C. H. Mills, the newlyappointed members, and the Hons. J. Holmes and J. Marshall (re-ap-pointed) were sworn in, and the Council adjourned until 10.30 the following morning.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 3.30 o'clock. A number of petitions were presented asking the Government to take steps to procure suitable young women for domestic service. - Mr Forbes gave notice of motion to move the Address-in-Reply tomorrow. Mr Herdman gave notice of the introduction of a Bill amending the Public Service Act. Sir J. G. Ward gave notice of mo,tion for the next sitting day that Mr Wilford be appointed Chairman of Committees, and that the Standing Orders be suspended to allow Government business . to be given precedence on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and that the Commission on the timber industry be granted permission to sit during the sitting of the House. The Premier's motion that me?n~ bers of the Timber Commission, are members of the House, be granted permission to sit during the present session, was agreed to. Referring to the report of the Judges in the Dunedin North election petition. Mr Allen said that steps should be taken by the Government to prevent the loss of ballot papers. Sir J. G. Ward replied that in the case referred to the officers had taken every step to sheet home the offence, but without success. He would be glad to take further steps in the direction indicated. The Expiry Laws Continuance Bill was read a first time. Sir J. G. Ward moved the adjournment of the House till 10.30 o'clock to-morrow morning. Mr Massey asked at what hour it was proposed to adjourn to-morrow. Sir J. G. Ward replied that the Government would submit proposals to the House and it was not intended to ask the House to sit later at night than 11 o'clock. ( The motion was carried, and the House rose at 5.10 o'clock.