PARLIAMENT OPENED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22194, 10 September 1937, Page 14

PARLIAMENT OPENED

Big Crowd Watches Ceremony At Wellington GOVERNMENT’S PROGRAMME Reference to Defence Measures in Speech From the Throne [From Our Parliamentary Reporter! WELLINGTON, September i). All the customary pageantry and ceremony was observed at the official opening of the second session of the twenty-fifth Parliament of the Dominion this afternoon. Although it was the second session of the present Parliament, and although the ceremony associated with the function was not new to the Wellington public, the crowd which attended the ceremony, both inside and outside Parliament, was easily as big as that which attended last year, when the first Labour Parliament opened its first session. The colourful military ceremony, culminating in the arrival of the Governor-General (Lord Galway), attracted a very big crowd outside Parliament Buildings, and the galleries inside were crowded for the more formal ceremonies. Because of the change in the Monarchy the procedure followed was more or less precisely that adopted last session. Before the arrival of the Governor-General members of the House of Representatives and of the Legislative Council had to be sworn in, and declare allegiance to the new King. They were sworn in batches of four, alphabetically. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. ML J. Savage) was included in the list, although he and the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) were able to take the oath of allegiance while in London for the Coronation ceremonies.

The weather was fine for the ceremony associated with the arrival of Lord Galway. His Excellency was accompanied by Major A. F, Purvis and Sir Standish O’Grady Roche, his aides-de-camp, and an escort of mounted constables provided by the Police Department. He was greeted by the chiefs of the army, navy, and air staffs. The Royal New Zealand Artillery provided a guard of honour with the Army School. Trentham, the guard being commanded by Captain C. J. Duff, and Lieutenant B. Wicksteed. His Excellency then led the official procession to the Legislative Council. There a brilliant gathering filled the galleries and gave a background to easily the most picturesque part of the whole proceedings. Following traditional procedure, his Excellency commanded the Gentleman .Usher of the Black Rod to summon members of the House of Representatives. On their arrival Lord Galway read the speech from the Throne, a copy of which he received from tho Leader of the Legislative Council (the Hon. Mark Fagan). After the reading of the speech members of the House of Representatives returned to their own chamber to transact formal business. • There the House read a first time the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, a routine measure which is never actually passed through all stages, but which serves as a reminder of the days when Parliament was jealous of its rights, and its hold on the exchequer. It was read a first time, pro forma. Proclamations and resolutions relating to the abdication of King Edward yill and the accession of King George yi were then read, and the necessary resolutions passed recording them in the Journals of the House of Representatives ' The House adjourned until to-mor-row afternoon, when, as the Prune Minister Indicates, tributes will be paid to former legislators who died during the recess. After these tributes, the House will adjourn until Tuesday afternoon. when an Imprest Supply BU! will be introduced. The Address-m----ißeply debate will begin on Wednesday evening.

ing. The value of the exports for the season ended June 30 last reached the highest figure ever recorded, and the internal trade of the Dominion has also been very buoyant, largely due, in the opinion of my advisers, to the increased purchasing power in the hands of the consuming public, brought about by my Government’s legislation to raise the standards of living. The satisfactory prices obtained for our products overseas, the reduction in local unemployment, and the general increase in national income stand out in striking and welcome relief after the unhappy years of depression. All sections of the community have enjoyed a much greater degree of prosperity, and my Ministers are confident that these happy conditions will be maintained and improved. “While the number of persons unemployed has shown a very substantial reduction, the problem of promoting employment and relieving distressone of the major questions that have faced all countries since the depression—nevertheless continues to receive the closest attention of my Ministers. A properly planned and vigorous public works policy, including river protection works and embracing every class of national work necessary for the development and prosperity of the Dominion, was commenced without delay. Considerably more men have been given full-time employment on public works and secondary industries than in any previous year. “It Is proposed to provide facilities for the training of youths and men, including farm workers, by introducing courses of vocational instruction. During the recess my advisers have initiated inquiries into the fruit and vegetable industry, the fishing industry, and the tobacco industry, and the necessary measures are being taken for the knowledge so obtained to bo applied in the best interest of the community. “The facilities provided by the Primary Products Marketing Department have been • extended by the organisation of Internal marketing of primary products, “When my Government assumed office there was a marked shortage of houses, and the problem of housing the people of the Dominion has occasioned my advisers much concern. To meet this urgent need a Department of Housing Construction has , been established under the control of a parliamentary under-secretary. The first contracts for State houses were signed in March of this year. Good progress has since been made and the, work is being rapidly accelerated. “My Government has attached great importance to the co-ordination of transport services, and also to the principle of safety on the roads. A considerable reduction in fatal accidents has already been achieved as a result of the measures they have taken, and it is my Government’s intention to propose legislative amendments to further this object. “Mr Speaker, and Members of the House of Representatives—- “ During the recess my Minister for Finance, Customs, and Marketing has visited Great Britain for the purpose of discussing with His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom the question of trade between Groat Britain and New Zealand, and negotiations for a trade agreement, having as its objective a mutual expansion of trade, are still proceeding. My Minister took advantage of his visit abroad to discuss with His Majesty’s Government in Canada, and also with the Governments of a number of foreign countries, the trade relationships between them and this Dominion. It is expected that these discussions will, in a number of cases, lead to the conclusion at an early date of trade arrangements which should provide increased opportunity for the disposal of this Dominion’s primary products. In other cases the possibilities of arranging trade agreements to the benefit of the Dominion are to be further investigated. “The public accounts for the financial year ended March 31 last resulted in a surplus of £472,000, and the Dominion has proved able to provide for the whole of its financial requirements without recourse to overseas markets. Steps were taken, however, to convert to the extent of £4,000,000 the 6 per cent, stock, totalling £5,870,000, issued in London in 1921, the balance required to redeem this issue being provided from New Zealand. This conversion loan, issued at 30s per cent, discount and bearing interest at 3 per cent, per annum, has resulted In a substantial saving in interest charges, “A scheme for invalidity pensions and for an increase In the rates of existing pensions, both civil and military, inaugurated as a result of legislation passed during the last session, has proved of great benefit, and proposals will be placed before you having for then- object the extension of the system to cover certain classes of invalids not at present provided for. At the same time it is my Ministers’ intention to introduce a comprehensive measure establishing a system of national superannuation and health in* surance, the benefits of which, it is hoped, will be reflected in every household.

Speech from The Throne The Speech from, the Throne was aa follows:

“Honourable Gentlemen of the Xatlve Council and Members of the House of Representatives--“The accession and coronation of Hij Majesty King .George VI have been welcomed In this Dominion with universal approbation and with warm attachment to the Throne and to the persons of their present Majesties. My Prime Minister was privileged to re present New Zealand at the Coronation ceremony in London, and the pop ular enthusiasm so unmistakably displayed throughout His Majesty s Dominions has, in the opmicm of my advisers, provided conclusive . the value of the Throne to the British Commonwealth of Nations. _ “During this year my Ministers invited the public to contribute towards a fund for the provision of a Dominion memorial to his late Majesty, IGn& George V, in the form of childrens health camps. It is gratifying indeed to record the magnificent response that all sections of the community and both races made to this appeal. Legislative proposals for the administration of thu fund will be placed before you during the present session. , , . “The Dominion was represented at the recent Imperial Conference by my Prime Minister, my Minister for Finance. and the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London. A report of the proceedings will be laid before you at any early date, and an opportunity will be afforded for a full discussion of the work of the conference. Foreign affairs was one of the principal subjects discussed at the Imperial Conference, and my Government, as a result of this discussion, desires to reaffirm Its attachment to the principles of the covenant of the League of Nations, and its conviction that a collective system for the maintenance of the peace of the world is the only rational and effective means of achieving that end. and . of facilitating that general, disarmament which they so ardently desire. . . "A further subject which received close consideration at the Imperial Conference was defence, and my Prime Minister warmly appreciates and acKnowledges the value of the miormatipn that was olaced at his disposal at that time, and the advice and assistance that In response to every request. was so freely and generously made available by His Majesty s Government In the United Kingdom. The necessary steps have been taken for the more efficient co-ordination and administration of all branches of the defence services of the Dominion, an' - ’ legislative measures to that end will be placed before you during this session . “New Zealand was represented at the recent International Labour Conference by my Minister for Labour. Who also took the opportunity of his visit to study Industrial legislation and conditions in Europe and America. It is the Intention of my Government to lay before you proposals for the ratification of a number of conventions already adopted by the International Labour Conference. “The substantial material progress Which this Dominion has made since I feet pddM«wd yw is most encourag-

“Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Members of the House of Representatives:— “The welfare and advancement of the Maori people have received the fullest attention of my Government during the last year, and vigorous methods have been pursued in promoting tha development and settle*

ment of their lands and in improving their living and housing conditions. It is the intention of my Government to continue and to accelera e measures for promoting the health, prosperity, and happiness of the Mao r3 “My Ministers have in preparation a comprehensive scheme for improving, by sport and physical training, th health and fitness of the people generally and the arrangements for the supply of milk to children in schools which were successfully inaugurated early this year in the principal c'ties, and which now reach about one-third of the school population, are being extended to other centres. At the same time facilities for the training of school dental nurses have been enlarged, and my Ministers hope to be in a very shortly rapidly to increase the number of school dental clinics. “Preliminary consideration has been given to the reorganisation of the education system. The views of educational authorities, associations of teachers, and other bodies interested in education, have been obtained, and the rectnt New Education Fellowship Conference provided an opportunity for obtaining much helpful information from distinguished educationists visiting New Zealand. It is proposed to introduce legislation amending the Education vet, 1914. , . r “Realising the importance of forestry as a means of creating a valuable national asset, and at the same tune of providing employment, my Ministers have under consideration a longterm programme of indigenous forest improvement (having due regard to the necessity of providing for the better preservation of native bush) in addition to the establishment of further exotic plantations. , . “My Minister" for Agriculture is giving full consideration to measures necessary for the improvement of the farming industry and the protection of “During the recess my Minister for Justice and Attorney-General has considered the matter of law reform with a view to correcting anomalies in the law, and ensuring that it should be adequate to meet the needs of justice in the light of modern conditions. With this objective a representative law revision committee has been constituted. “My advisers propose to lay before you amendments to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1925, providing for an extension of the definition of ‘industry.’ You will also be asked to extend for a further period the operation of the Fair Rents Act, 1936. , , “A bill will be introduced for your consideration setting up a Standards Institute on the lines adopted in Great Britain and other countries, with the object of co-operating with Industry and commerce in the establishment of a commodity standard where this would be helpful. “Bills will also be submitted for your consideration amending the Coalmines Act, 1925, the Mining Act, 1926, the Stonequarries Act, 1910, the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933, as well as measures concerning the duration of Parliament, an' alteration in the day of the celebration of His Majesty’s birthday, the ce* tennial of New Zealand in 1940, an adjustment of law relating to damage by motor-vehicles, and for facilitating the search for petroleum in the Dominion. A bill providi ? for local government reform will also be introduced. “I earnestly trust that your deliberations on these subjects may be guided by Divine Providence for the welfare and prosperity of the people of this Dominion.”

Satisfaction guaranteed. Over 57 years of plating service to New Zealand stands behind every Chromium Plating job. Ask your dealer to arrange for Armstrong and Farr to Chromium Plate the bright parts of your cycle—it’s a great protection against rust and costs very little. Armstrong and Farr. “The Plating People,’* 148 Victoria street. First in 1880— Foremost Ever Since, — 9