THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7818, 10 June 1909, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

"WELLINGTON, June 10. When Parliament met at 3.30 this afternoon, His Excellency the Governor (Lord Plunket) was pleased to deliver, the following Speech:- . Honourable Gentlemen of the. Legis-. lative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— ■ ' ■ It is with much pleasure I meet you again'i m 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 statements of His Majesty's Ministers m England as to the present strength and fighing efficiency of the British Navy, and more particularly as to the extensive changes m and to that Navy, found to be necessary to enable the Empire to maintain its greatness, if not its existence, m 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 Ilis Majesty's Ministers there have outlined the 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 which the maintenance of the British Navy already! imposes on the United Kingdom, and of the great additions which will be made to this burden by the next naval programme. It is quite unnecessary to remind you how vitally we m this dominion are interested m 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 to our property, trade and commerce by her iTleets. v . My Advisers, recognising not only the gravity of the situation' m which the rapid growth of foreign naval armaments has placed our. Mother Country, but also the great weight of the burden of her people 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 firstclass 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 was made His Ma I jesty'.s self-governing oversea dominions have all evinced their loyal desire to see the Imperal Navy so strengthened as to secure that supremacy of the seas upon which the Empire has risen to its present greatness, and upon which that greatness . now deIn these circumstances His Majesty's i Home Government has called to a Naval Conference to be held m London m the last week m July next, responsible representatives of all the self-govern-ing dominions, with a view to concerted" and united action being taken throughout the Empire for naval sunremacv 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 firhich each self-governing State has agreed to send a representative 'Hie Prime Minister of New Zealand, will attend this conference, as my Advisers deem it expedient not only m view of the importance of the conference to this dominion and to the nation but also m view of the new part this'country has assumed m Imperial defence by its offer of a. Dreadnought, that New Zealand should be represented at the conference by its Prime To^enable the Prime Minister to be present m London for the opening of the conference he must leave New Zealand m 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 m his place here to carry on his important duties, and to introduce, explain, and if necessary defend the policy of the Government, and therefore to enable him to attend the conference an early prorogation of Parliament is essential. Honourable Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, . In accordance with the usual custom Parliament would, m 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, PFoposals for an extension of the Appropriations to a suitable date will bo submitted for your consideration. A statement showing approximately the financial position of the dominion will be placed before you, and legislative authority will be asked to raise r sum of money required to carry on £<ejH-,ain public works. ' T . • , I Honorary Gentlemen of the legislative' Council and Gentlemen of the House of llenresentatives— It 'S not considered necessary by my Advisers-that any measures should be brought before you except the financial proposals already indicated by me as necessary to give effect to what. xn 5 Advisers deem the wish of the people of Now 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 m a great and permanent system of Imperial naval defence—a scheme which, by involving » closer partnership between us and the Mother Country, will draw us to her nearer still, and will express our kinship m the tangible and visible evidence of the •art we take, m the defence oi the Empire, and will, above all, with the blessing of God, make for the permanent peace of the world.