THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Bruce Herald, Volume LV, Issue 67, 1 September 1919, Page 4

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

DULiyBRED-YESTEROAY.

: The .Governor'.® Speech was..delivered at the. opening of Parliament yesterday 1 . The Speech dlealtvat length' iwith the ! termination:- ofi .tlio war, .the signpigi of peace, the. visit of. the two leaders ill connectioni therewith, and tho improved status -ofi .New Zealand as : a result;, pf the Dominion's participation hi the ponference, and continued':-- . J " " I have had' the honour of being his Majesty's representative' during' the' whole period) of the--war, and looking 'back with you over 'those years of trial I feel that T may join you-in the proud memory that this.Dominion, has never faltered, in' its ;de termination to give and continue its support to, th«' utmostof its power to the. cause of the Empire, and)-that no promise made 'by New Zealand', to the 'lmperial 'Government remains unfulfilled', by the 'Governmentof this Dominion, and' that our soldiers have, iby their splendid:' courage,, dis-'! ciplincy and conduct, won a name 1 for themselves and 1 a place for New Zealand in the. annals of the greatest of Avars. "•My Ministers recognise that the first dlutyi of Parliament in l tho new era of peace is l to the anient who havei fought for us and to the. relatives of the imen who haver fallen 'in our service. You will foe invited' at as early, a .date as possivle 'by resolution of -both Houses -to ratify the treaty with 'Germany and to accept the •mandate of the League l of. Nations for the. government and administration iby New Zealand; of that part of the Samoan group which was formerly under German rule. "During the. past three years your legislation has been confined to urgent matters arising from the war and to minor' amendments of existing general and local statutes. My Ministers recognise that, as there remain' only four .months of the life of the present Parliament, the- legislation to. <be submitted should be ■limited to (matters of urgency.

"The work of repatriation' and training of- returned soldiers has proceeded smoothlyi and satisfactorily. The Measures which you have passed in previous sessions providing for repatriation and' for assistance to soldiers in various occupations, and especially for tho acquisition: of land for their settlement, 'have in some respects proved; to be insufficient, and' amendments of the existing laws on-these subjects will be submitted- to you.

"The Mortgages Extension 'Act and its Amendments expire on August ;il, and require immediate .attention, and you will be asked' to pass with, as little delay: as possible an- Expiring Laws, Continuance Act, which will extend the operation of those. Acts for a further period. You will later be requested to consider an amending -and consolida ting Act- continuing for a certain period) the existing limitations upon the powers of ,1)10 rtgageesi, and defining a time when 'these limitations may be safely re-, moved.

" Bills J amending' the Government Railway© Act, Lajb.oui- 'Laws, the Workers' Dwellings Act, the Discharged Soldiers VSettlcnient Act, the Coal Mines Act, the Chattels 'Transfer Act, the Post and Telegraph Act, the Lamd" Laws, and others''have been prepared for your consideration.

"You .will doubtless 'be pleased to learn that the Lake Coleridge hydroelectric system: continues 1 to toe a success. Steps are toeing, taken, to.-complete the works. Steps ai;e being taken in regard to the' Mangahao and Awapuni schemes.

"The failure of the supply of coal lias caused my 'Government much, anxiety during the recess, and my Ministers trust that you will find time sufficient to ehatole you to consider fully the position. The •shortage 'hast been due. to two causes—firstly, the reduction of the output from New Zealand, and, secondly, the 'difficulty of supplementing that 'supply, toy cargoes from Australia. There is now good ground for hope that one of the reasons which has prevented import from Australia may -be shortly removed', tout deficiency of shipping exists, and to a certain' extent must for the present continue. My Ministers view with anxiety the conditions! which leave this Dominion ' dependent upon: Sources of supply of coal- from', other countries. At the present moment the freezing chamtoers are full of meat, the property of the Imperial Government, on account of which millions of money have been- paid toy that Government, and: every obligation of /honour and duty requires that while such meat remains in 'store coal shall be supplied for the Efficient working of the freezing machinery. The loss of revenue.' consequent upon the reduction of the railway services -has 'been unost serious, but that loss constitutes toy no means the principal ground of the present- anxiety of. the 'Government. The supply foT every 'household 'haa toeon necessarily curtailed to< a limit.which -has caused general -inconvenience and considerable suffering during the winter months. My Musters hope that some satisfactory basis of arrangement may toe arrived) at under which, toy increasing the production of cxisting uvines and opening new ones, the Dominion may toecome selfreliant in! the provision of coal for'its industries and its Ironies.

" The sura granted/ toy- Parliament for repatriation' and land settlement of our "soldiers have (been found to-"be wholly insufficient to meet the requirements. 'My M'imst-crs have felt that it 'is impossible to delay the progress, and they have therefore,, in anticipation of your support, eotpeH'cMl moneys an'd entered into obligations largely in;-excess of the amounts authorised. The public throughout the Dominion) - has united) in the endeavour 'by the <of welcome 'to jevery transport edrryungt returned soldiers, ,to emphasise the general {Sentiment -that what 'our soldiers have done ,fpr .u« d«lman;d ! 3 in return, from us,the utmost, that we-can do for them. Such obligations cannot be met wholly from revenue, and;, my* Ministers do not doubt that you /will 'cheerfully' grant them the borrowing .power they will propose and - confer your to 1 Taw the nwesf: sary moneys, ,

Witlih regard ,to the;ordinary expenditure yiou will find that'thei 'graniteid ill your test session 'has <m-, abled,irwyi';to : carry on the. ibusinesis: M th.ei/ country beyond) .the period! wdien in ordinary years supply ceases. Fortunately t>oth .Hie. collection of'Tevenuirxutdl the exp&nddtur.ei on. pub-, lie set vices till a. latei diay in/the present month has been Hinder conitrol of the ; Government formed. 'in the> year 1915, iby agreement of thef principal political' parties, and my "'Ministers theref ore coniide'n'tily anticipate! yiour confirmation in respect of that- past period.

•' '-.'The 'Estimates for the remaining part- of tlve year ending- on' March 31 neixti havei 'beeni largely prepared under tlrei supervision of . the Ministers lately controlling 1 tiie! several departments 1 , and wrli;!bo 'Submitted: to you ibyi my present Ministers, s:ubje;ct- to swell'revision a& is possible within l th'ei very close limit- of time available, to them for the purpose. "The visit of t-hiei 'Admiral 'of the Fleet, Viscount Jcllicoc,.. 'to New: -Zeial&nd is an event of far more than ordinary importance.. Ono part of the great trust imposed upon him : by the Imperial: 'Government is tliat :of considering the subject of the naval defence' of the. Coiniin'onwealth and >of this D.o'minion, and! .offering advice to the re;specti'vo Govetriwnenits. Tliei wid'er subject of the; Britiislt interests in the Pacific- and! provision; for their general defence and protection, 'will also 1 have Ms consideration'. The appointment of ■ono vso distinguished for the purpose mark's the- importance! of. the. (duties l entrusted to 'him. My; Ministers' trust that his inquiries and reports will have the effect of removing maniy difficulties and of enabling 'both, the Imperial Government aiiicU the dominions concerned! to ■more clearly appreciate! the dangers of the present and the future/mid theibest means of united) preparation .'to meet them.

'' During t'lio rcecissi I paid an official visit, accompanied) by Hon. 'Dr Pomare, to the 'Cook Islands. I was> received everywhere with great cordiality 'both by. natives and* Eui'opeans. At the request of the; Imperial Government I proceeded thence 'to Samoa, where I also met with, a cordial reception from the natives of those; islands.. I desire to record! the gratitude/ of 'myself- amcli any Government for the 'hospitality accorded to Hon. Dr Pomare Iby the Governor of •American: Samoa, at Pago Pago, and 'bv his 'Excellency' tilio Governor of Fiji at Suva. It was necessary to call'at 'both of these ports for coaling, purposes. ' £ The Dominion has . not' entirely escaped; flic unrest) which is prevalent in many other countries of the world', and which is till© aftermath., of the Great War, ibut lam coivfidcnt that the good sentse. and! industry of the citizens of the.Dominion' will more than counteract, any attempts, to spread the pernicious doctrines which, have proved so mischievous in certain European countries. - "I comnmcnidl the matters to which I 'have referred to your earnest consideration, and I trust that Divine Providence may guide-you. in' your deliberations l .''