SPEECH FROM THRONE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1943, Page 4

SPEECH FROM THRONE

PARLIAMENT OPENED TODAY Only Essential Business to be Dealt With QUESTION OF HOLDING GENERAL ELECTION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The fifth session 'of the twentysixth Parliament of New Zealand opened this afternoon with the customary ceremony by the GovernorGeneral (Sir C. Newall) who read the speech from the throne. The Governor-General in the course cf his speech said: — HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:— “When last I addressed you the British Commonwealth and its allies were preparing to meet, with what resources could be made available at short notice, the first overwhelming flood of Japanese aggression by the gallant resistance, particularly of the American and Australian forces, with whom New Zealand naval and air units have been closely and effectively associated in action. That flood which spread far and wide and most grievously damaged the Allied interests in this part of the world has now been stemmed and appears to be receding. It is not only in the Pacific that the most promising and heartening results have been achieved. In the middle East the enemy have been thrown out of Libya and Tripolitania, and, in this victorious campaign, the New Zealand troops have again played a memorable pari, of which the whole Dominion is justifiably proud. HUGE MILITARY DEFEAT. ' “The landing in North Africa of British and American forces has rapidly cleared/ all but a small portion of that area from Axis influence, while in Europe the invading hordes of Germany and her satellites have met with a military defeat of huge and as yet incalculable magnitude at the hands of the heroic Russians. Though the way will still, no doubt, be long and hard with many stern struggles to meet and heavy difficulties to overcome my ministers are convinced from the developments of the last few months and from the information at their disposal that if every effort continues to be bent to this great task the end is certain, and may not be as distant as previously appeared to be probable. On all fronts the Allies have now been able to abandon the defensive strategy that was forced upon them in the early stages of the war, and to prepare for a general attack on the aggressors. YEAR OF ALLIED OFFENSIVES. “The momentous meeting at Casablanca between President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill and their advisers has been welcomed by my Government as an occasion of profound significance for the course and conduct of the war. The year 1943 will, it is confidently expected, be one of wide Allied offensives. We have been most happy to welcome to the Dominion in large .numbers the members of the United States armed forces whose relations with our own people are most cordial, and whose exemplary behaviour has earned our warmest admiration. The people of the ..Dominion have met the demands of war with a spirit worthy of the highest commendation and my Government are most appreciative of the efforts of all sections of the community, in the armed forces, in the various subsidiary war efforts, in industry, in agriculture and in ordinary civil life. My ministers feel that the war effort of the Maori race has been

especially praiseworthy. Organised and controlled by the Maori people themselves through their own leaders in ac , cordance with their own customs and traditions their response has been magnificent and their pakeha comrades fully share their pride in the world-wide renown for courage and the highest fighting qualities that the Maori troops have so gallantly won. PACIFIC POSITION IMPROVED. “The marked improvement of the . position in the Pacific and the necessity for essential war purposes of maintaining to the full the production of ■ the Dominion seem to my advisers to 1 indicate the desirability of some read- : justment of the measures that they have up to the present considered it : necessary to take for the local defence ■ of New Zealand. This matter is now i receiving their close and earnest con- ' sideration and their proposals in this . connection will be laid before you for . discussion during this session. My ad- ’ visers are devoting special attention to ■ the difficult and intricate problems that : will be involved in the rehabilitation 1 into civil life of the men of the arm- : ed forces. Their proposals in this con- ■ nection are well advanced and they > are confident that they will be able ; to meet all requirements as they arise : with due regard to the generous treati ment of discharged soldiers, sailors and I airmen, and without dislocation of the , economic life of the Dominion. My ■ ministers have devoted considerable care and attention to the question of stabilisation and comprehensive measures have been -adopted towards the attainment of this end. . “Mr Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives: Until it : ends in complete victory for the ■ United Nations the war must con- ' tinue to absorb an ever-increasing ■ proportion of the Dominion’s resources 1 for the purposes of New Zealand's ; total war effort, and for local defence. ■ The Dominion is receiving from the United States of America in large pro- ■ portions and on lend-lease term wea- ■ pons, equipment and other supplies ■ which cannot be produced in New . Zealand. For our part we are ren- ; dering to the American forces in the i Pacific as much aid as is within dur power in the form of foodstuffs, pri- ■ mary products, services, materials and ; labour for construction. These efforts, ■ are reflected in the Dominion’s war > finance which now absorbs more than ; half of the national income, a burden which must inevitably increase. The aim of my Government is to finance war expenditure as much as possible from current revenue and up to the present approximately half the cost . has been met in this way. : ESSENTIAL BUSINESS ONLY. ; “It is the intention of my Ministers during this session, which they feel should be confined in the present circumstances as far as possible to war ' measures, to transact only such busi- ' ness as is essential, among which will ' be included a revision of the legisla- ’ tion relating to war pensions and > measures to facilitate the success of their proposals for promoting the re- ! habilitation and economic security of ■ returned servicemen. It will be necessary, however, for Parliament to consider among other matters the desirability of holding a general election ■ this year, and the views of my advisers on this matter will be placed before ' you in due course. In all your deliberations I pray that God may be your guide to the lasting benefit of the Dominion and the advancement of the cause for which we fight.”