THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 289, 10 June 1909, Page 5

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Hon 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. 1 . lam entitleC:to ; :assiime: 'that "you "have folf lowed with close, and deep interest tho 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. . • • • Tho gravity of tho outlook upon the rapid growth of foreign naval armaments has impressed itself upon the statesmen of the United Kingdom, and his Majesty's Ministers there 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 which tho 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 programmes. It is quite unnecessary to remind you how vitally we in tlii9 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 tho rapid growth of foreign naval armaments has placed our Mother Country, but also the groat weight of the burden upon 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 otter of a first-class battleship of tho 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 by his Majesty, the self-gov-erning oversea dominions have all evidenced their loyal desire to see the Imperial navy so strengthened as to secure that supremacy of tho seas upon which the Empire- has risen to itS piO6enti greatness, and »pon which that greatness now depends. _ In these circumstances, his Majesty's Home Government has called to a naval conference to be held in London in the last week in July next responsible representatives of all the self-srove-rning' dominions, with a view to concerted and united action beingtaken throughout tho Empire for naval supremacy and .naval defence. Tho importance of this conference, not only to. the United Kingdom itself, but to all his Majesty's dominions, lias been recognised by the readiness with which each selt-gov-orning State has agreed to '■send representatives. The Prime Minister of I\ew Zealand will attend this conference, as my advisers deem it expedient,, not ■■ only in view of the importance of the : conference to this dominion and na- ' nation, but also in view of tho new ■ part this country has assumed in Im- , porial defence by its offer_ of a I Dreadnought, that Now Zealand should bo represented at tho conterj once ' bv ... iU-Prime Minister. To en-

able the Prime 3Nlims^-V^)(/jjjj&sl ent in London for th\ opcmpgf <jnni% ! conference, ho must . We've ii&pw iiea- ' land in a short time, stink ■cannot'-re-turn before the end of , rtoxt. This being the first session of ! Sf.new Parliament, my advisers deem '.[ it necessary that • while the -session ( lasts the Prime Minister should be in ; his place here to cany out his im- i pbrta\nt /'duties, and introduce, ex- ; plain, and, if necessary, defend the \ policy of the Government, and there--fore," to enable him to attend the eon-> ferenco an early prorogation of Par- ; liament is essential. . : Hon. Gentlemen of the House of Re- ' r . presentativesv - ■■> . In acordance witli the iisual custom ' Parliament would' in the ordinary ; course of events have been summon- \ ed for til 1 © last week of this month and i as you:' are aware .sup-plies have been : voted' to the 30th day of Jiine. iii view of the circumstances and course I : have already . referred ..to,., proposals. ; for an extension of apropriations to a. • suitable date will be submitted for your : consideration. A • statement. I showing approximately the financial ; position of the dominion will bo placed ' before you-, - and legislative authority , asked to raise a sum of money re- ' quired to carry on certain public ; works. - v Hon. Gentlemen" of ."the Legislative '- ■ Council, and Gentlemen of the ■ House of Representatives, — i It is not considered necessary by my ; advisers that any measures should be broirght before you except the financial proposals already indicated by me as necessary, to ..give effec^tt? what- my advisers deem, tne wisfc^^lie people of New Zealand that tfiis dominion should be represented,,at the impending conference by, tM Prime, Minister. I trust that liis attendance, with that of Ministers of Crown from : other self-governing oversea dominions, will result in. a; great and permanent scheme of Imperial Jiavaide- ' fence," 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 kingship in tangible, and visible evidences of tlie part we take ia the defence of the Empire, and will, above all, with the blessing of God, make for the permanent'peace of the world.