SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3966, 26 June 1915, Page 9

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

THE NEW- ZEALAND PARLIAMENT. OOSVISM30 3 3 SHARE U 4 THE WAR. AN OFFICIAL RE VIE V/. NO CONTENTIOUS MEASURES EOR. THE SESSION. (Official Message.) WELLINGTON, June 25. Hon. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— ! It is with pleasure that T meet you | in Parliament assembled. During the ! session of 1914 Parliament was sud- | donly called upon to pass enactments j of an exceptional nature to provide | for circumstances which immediately ■ arose or were anticipated consequent upon tlie outbreak of war. lam able to inform you that most of such legislation has been proved by experience to bo efficient and has enabled my ! Government to meet and deal emergencies which have arisen up to , the present. But, in some respects, it has been found that this special j legislation requires amendment and extension, and measures will be submitted to you with that object. The j preparation and consideration oi tho j legislation to which .I’ve referred, j formed hut a small part of the novel j and urgent duties which the existence of the state of war cast upon myself and my Ministers. The administration of the ordinary and regular business and affairs of the Dominion has been attended to with care, but Ministers felt that their duty and obligation to the Empire had become a paramount consideration and that the "Parliament of New Zealand would recognise that the Imperial functions which, in time of war, devolve upon the. Governments of the various dependencies of the Crown must claim their first and most urgent attention.

As representative of the Sovereign, j by time and that of my personal staff | has been largely occupied in the com- i mindentions constantly necessary be- | tween the Imperial Government and that of the Dominion and many duties not ordinarily incident to the work of Governor of a self-governing Dominion have fallen to be oerformed by myself, j Each of the-Ministers have been called j upon to undertake duties foreign to i their departments. Officials of the Public Service, and especially heads of departments and the Public Service Commissioners have been required to undertake much arduous and difficult work, of the nature of which there has been no previous experience in New Zealand. . . Ministers desire to acknowledge the loyal and public-spirited support which lias booh given by all servants of the Crown. The work of the military authorities and the Department of Defence has been most strenuous and difficult and lias been most important. Ministers feel that a special debt of gratitude is due from the Dominion to all those officers of the Imperial and of the New Zealand services who have yielded to their request to remain in New Zealand to guide direct training to recruits. Onlv through their constant and diligent- care has it been possible, to bring the officers and men of the Expeditionary Forces to the state of real efficiency which, I am happy to inlorin you. they have attained. 'The response of tho. men of both races in this Dominion to the Empire’s call lias been a source of pride to the people of New Zealand and of satisfaction t-o myself and my Ministers. Not only have men come forward in the numbers required, but they have cheerfully accepted the drudgery and hardship"of training and are only too anxious to be ready at the earliest possible moment for active service. You will remember that a section or the First Expeditionary Force was despatched in August last to Samoa. The German authorities surrendered to our force on 29th August and German Samoa has since been administered under the direction of the Imperial Government, Colonel Logan being Administrator in command of the garrison of New Zealand troops. The second part of the First Expeditionary Force travelled via Australia to Egvpt-. where the men were in camp for some months completing training. Large reinforcements have been sent at intervals. Tlie Fifth left during tlie present month, and Sixtlp «i»foreements are now training at 1 tenth am camp. Of the conduct, efficiency and courage of our troops in action, we have every reason to he proved. Shortly after the New Zealand and Australian troops were landed fit Cue Dardanelles a gracious and most welcome message was received from the King in the following terms : '“I heartily congratulate you upon splendid conduct and bravery displayed bv the New Zealand troops at the Dardanelles, who have indeed proved themselves worthy sons of the Empire.—George R.” To which I replied: “On behalf of myself, the Government and people of New Zealand, I desire to respectfully thank Your Majesty for vour most gracious message. * We " are all proud of the manner in which New Zealand troops have acquitted themselves and eager!v look forward to hearing further details of the operations in the Dardanelles. —Liverpool.” There has been a long list of casualties, but we may rest assured thatthose who have fallen have done and those who are still in the line will continue to do their duty gallantly and fearlessly. You will he asked to make due provision by pension and otherwise for the families of those who have given their lives and for the men who have become disabled in the service and for their dependants, and I commend this subject- specially to your careful and generous consideration. It has been our privilege to take part, with all the Dependencies of the Crown and with the armies of the United Kingdom and those of our brave Allies in a struggle for liberty and free Government. But, we could not have taken that part-—we could hardly have sent any force from these shores —had not the safety of our transports been ensured the protection of His Majesty’s ships of the Imperial and Australian squadrons, conjoined with the navies of our Allies. To the navy we owe also the present- sense of safely, security and practical immunity of t-he high ways of commerce from danger. Gentlemen! of the House of Representatives,— The Estimates have been prepared for your consideration--with due regard to economy, but the abnormal expenditure consequent on the war has been and will .continue to be very large. Doubtless you will determine that some .proportion of the cost should be provide from loan moneys. You will he called upon to consider measures for tho provision of that part which should be supplied from revenue. Hon. Gentlemen of tbe Legislative Council and Gentlemen of tlie House of Representatives,— My Ministers are satisfied- that at the present juncture when we are all united in our determination to prosecute the war until an honorable peace is arrived at, no legislation, tho discussion of which would involve party strife should be submitted to vou. In addition to the legislation arising out of and consequent on the war,’to wbcli previously referred, you will be invited to give your attention to such amendments of the existing statute law as appear to be urgently required. You will have, in addition, measures of purely local interest which Vmay be submitted to you from the various districts of nomination I trust that Divine Providence may guide your delib-

! orations to the advantage of our Sovereign, of his Empire, and this Dominion. j WORK OF PARLIAMENT. THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. j FIRST DAY’S BUSINESS. ; IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. tributes to THE DEAD. ' By Telegraph—Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, June 25. j The ceremonies in connection with the opening of Parliament were completed 'this afternoon, when the Gov- , 1 ornor delivered his speech. The pro- j j ceedings were of tbe usual formal cha- j I racter, but one special feature of in- j i terest was the composition of the j ‘ guard of honor, which was drawn, up ! i in front of the Parliament Buildings j |to receive IDs Excellency, on his ar- | ! rival. This was composed of a detach- j ; mout of tlie men. now in camp at Iron.- j tham. There was a half-company oi \ 'infantry and a section of mounted j j rifles and a section, of Field Artillery j drawn from the Sixth Reinforcements , ! and also a platoon of infantry from > ! the Trentham Regiment (Earl of Li-| J venibol’s Own) which is the extra- in- > | fantry contingent that is being trained j j for service at the front. Tlie Tien- ■ ! tham Camp Band also accompanied j tnc troops. i i The general physique and deport- , ' mont of tho men attracted much la- j j vorable comment. The men front tho : I “Earl of Liverpool's Own” Regiment j ‘lined the vestibule and corridor of the j I buildings leading to the Legislative i Council Chamber, where the ceremony, took place.-- . j The Guard of Honor was m charge | of Lieut.-Colonel' Fulton, Officer Commantling the First Battalion of the T rent'll am Regiment. . j His Excellency was accompanied b> | the Countess of Liverpool and his ? suite, Brigadier-General Rohm (acting ; Commandant), Lieut. Colonel Gibbon j i (chief of tho General Staff) and seve- ; | , a l officers of the New Zealand Staff j i Corps being also in attendance. j His Excellency, who was attired in i j Court dress, 'occupied nine minutes m- = I 1 proceedings IN THE HOUSE. I The Speech having been read, tne ■ I Governor took his departure and hot- » j Houses proceeded with" - the business ■ that awaited them. i When the House reassembled tne , usual formal business was transacted, i but the small number _ of notices o. ; | motions and questions for an opening I clav was very marked The Imprest Supply mil was quier. i ly passed through all its stages "l.n- ---! out debate. ,-,r THE SHADOW Ob Ikd ' The shadow of death hung la aii'y over t-he remainder of the pneort-ino-s ’ Parliament, on the opewrng of = each session, invariably s '';R !cc i upon to' perform the mournt ,'l duly ol paving tribute to the memory ami sorj vices of departed members or ox memi hers. Tc-dav it fell to the lot ot > ! House to pass motions in legaic. 10 i no fewer than..seven deceased Kgr.iators —a number without precedent u : the history of the New Zealand I arj Lament, ' I The mournful duty of passing re.o i hitiems in regard to He dead legis a--1 tors having been concluded an cqiiallj ' | sad dutv was performed. This had re- ' i ferenco to the death of the late Lieut. |,j. H. Allen, of the 15th Battalion, ■ i Worcester Regiment, son of the Hon. ’ James Allen, Minister for Defence, j who was. killed in notion at the IFii ■ dandles. , . A resolution of sympathy witn the i Minister for Defence and Mrs Alien 1 i was moved in a grateful and feeling 1 I speech by tlie Leader oi the Opposi- > I turn " nci. after having been cupport- ■ cri bv the Prime Minister and 'Messrs j G. W. Russel! and A. S. Malcolm, was | carried in. silence. * I Air Massey, in his remarks, thanked - .Sir Joseph Ward for his sympathetic > speech, the Minister for Defence not ■ then being in the Chamber. The House then adjourned till 2.50 ' ni, Tuesday, when sunn* measures aimin"* out of tho war will bo dealt >\ itn. In the Legislative Council the bu- ■ dross transacted was similar to that • done in tlie House of Representatives.

FORhIAL REPORT.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. I Press Association Telegram.l WELLINGTON, June 25. The Legislative Council met at 3 p.m. Leave of absence was granted lions. Nixora, Simpson and Morgan. Sir Francis Bell notified that there would be a mil! of the Council on Tin Jidv. when tin? election of Speaker would take place. Hon. Mr Carncross man of Committees. Kon. Colonel Baibic said he wished to express the great pleasure of the Cnuncfi at the honor of Knighthood conferred upon lion. IF. D. Bell. I or three years lie lied acted as Leader of the Council and he had been, instrumental in passing legislation vluen was of great benefit to the Dominion. His father, the. bate Sir Francks Dillon Bell, had been a member of several Ministries and also had been Speaker and had received many honors. Sir Francis Bell had been one of their most distinguished members of Parliaivh'iit and Ik*.-trusted lie would long continue to act as a member of that Council. He- felt he was voicing the opinion of Councillors in congratulating Sir Francis Bell upon the honor lie had received. _ . Hon. Air Jones said lio -desired to r.uppement the words of the pvev ions speaker. Sir Francis Bell came from a family distinguished in the history of New’ Zealand and the name would go down, to posterity with credit, Hon. Mr Namuel added ins general congratulations and said he desired to express the gratification oc the legal profession at the honor conferred upon Sir Eraneis Beil. A very great deal depended upon the honesty end effi-cion.-v of the legal profession and one who assisted towards that end deserved the thanks of the people. Sir Francis Bell was recognised throughout the profession as one of tlie distinguished leaders of the Bai. IU had eonstautlv been striving towards high ideals and it gave him great de)iitHt to acknowledge the pleasure of the bar of New Zealand at the honor conferred. , lion. Air Mills and Dr. Collins also added their felicitations. Hon, Sir Francis 8011, in Ins repU, said he was afraid that what had been said bv the previous .speakers was too much actuated by the friendship which those in the Council all feel towaidn each other. There had been so much consideration shown lum ni the three years he had been Leader of the Gem.l-;-il that he felt he could not look tor an impartial judgment on himself. He most keenly appreciated all that had been said in regard to- himself, h A that which he most valued was the utterances of tho Hon. Mr Sainucl m reference to Hus connection with tho legal profession. He had not sou„ t the honor conferrcd.upon him, but he felt that, as Leader of the Council, n ; had been honored. M'lie members o the Council themselves had enabled him to achieve his honor and usefulness and this was tin? reason he had been singled out for distinction,. Sir Francis Bell - then moved the eustomavy resolution of sympathy n i 4i regard to the late Hons. Montgomery Stevens and Arkwright and of Mcgi s Bollard, AicGuire, and Letlibi idge,_ formerly members of the House of It gupply bjh was I>assecl through- all stages and the Coun ( M a jour,icd at 4,30 p.m. until 2.30 1>- In - Monday, when the question of . the standiiig orders _wdl be cous.deie . THE HOUSE. The House met at 2.30 p.m. and nn mediately adjourned to attemUat He Legislative Council and htu Sneech from, the Throne. On returning, the Speaker announe--1 he had that morning been presented to his Excellency the Governor, from whom he claimed tho -pn-

vileges of Parliament anti Li is Excellency had' been pleased to accede to the same.

In reply to Mr Okey, who asked a question without notice, the Minister for Defence stated that the arrangements for reporting casualties at the Dardanelles were, as far as he knew, somewhat as follows: The officers in command sent as soon as possible all information available. There is no wireless communication with the Dardanelles and all information has to be sent by tbe transports or similar means. In the early days of this campaign the authorities naturally had great difficulty in collecting information about those killed and be laid to ask people to exercise some patience under tlie circumstances. Everything that could be done was being done 5 and, while it was true that casualties which occurred four or five weeks ago were only being reported now, lie would like members to consider the difficulties of the position. The gathering of information regarding the killed was naturally more arduous and had to be dealt with more carefully than in the case of_ wounded, as it was a grave responsibility to include anyone in a list of killed. The House could rest assured that the authorities were doing all a human being could do to satisfy the proper demands of the people with regard to tho reporting of casualties. Mr Allen gave notice to move next sitting day that a secret committee be set up to consider all matters relating to the defence or war which may he referred to it by the House or by the Minister for Defence, the Committee to consist of Messrs Guthrie, Herdman, li indnuuuh, Lee, Massey, McNab, Myers, it. Rhodes, Russell, Sir* Joseph ‘Ward, and the mover. On the motion of the .Premier, tlie Expiry of Laws Continuance Bill was introduced and read a first time. Sir Joseph Ward asked when Uie Bills dealing with war matters, referred to iu' the Governor’s Speech,. ■ would ha laid before members? The Premier replied that he hoped to lay them before tlie House in. tbe course of a few (lays. An Imprest Supply Bill providing ways and means to the amount oi £1 285,000 was introduced by the Minister for Finance and, by arrangement with the Ormosition, passed througn all stages without discussion. The Premier moved “that tins ' House records its high sense of faithj ful services rendered to New Zealand |hv the late John Bollard, a former ; member -of the House, and rospecGully ! tenders to his widow and family an j assurance of sincere sympathy until : them in their bereavement.” „ , l After the Premier and, Loader or tnc i Opposition had paid tributes to He j memory of the deceased gent.email, tho motion was carried in sden.ee. I Similar motions were passed m cqr.i Tiection with the decease of Messrs v;Y. Lethbridge, . Felix Mcvruire, the | Hons. W. Montgomery, E. hichardI son, E. C. J ■ Stevens, and 1' • Ark- ! wright. ...... i Sir Joseph Ward moved, without-no : tice a motion of sympathy witn Kon. ■ James Allen in connection with the ! death of his son, Incut, Allen, who i was killed at the Iront. | Sir Joseph said it- was perhaps isti tin°" that ho. as Leader of the Oppo j sit-ion. should move .such a- motion. ' There were times when the asperites* I of political life were somewhat better i and party feeling ran high, bin. undm i conditions such as tlie present, --. | were brought together by Scelmgs : sympathy and it- seemed to mm ,n op,i 1 that they should recognise the tall ol | the son‘of a Minister of the Crown I at- a time when a great war was |in«r That son ' had a distinguish*? • career at Oxford and was a thorougn j Imperialist—a fact amply demoimaatled by his close coimection u D*<it j widol'v-read and influential punlnu--1 tion “The Round 'i able. U e Onncj fore desired to _exines> k - - ••, | sympathy of lus side of the House i> I the lion. Mr Allen, w-nose son had | died a noble death—possibly the best j a man could die. , Mr Mossev, in seconding i m° tion. thanked the Leader of the Opposition for the kindly thought 0 atprompted it. Lieut. Alien was a yoi ng man of great promise and lus- pm ‘. . bad naturally looked forvi a<l ';U pleasant anticipation to lus hat in*. . successful career. r I nat- had unioitiiWo:. .lit IT" li;u "X in service for hw country. and >. i , n„,, assured him he woii.d ia- £ ),te £<li" tI,L tii.-.t lie a.0e1.l eliiek Ins -Tnty stopping at home m safely. The motion was carried. -pi,, Premier then moved t.aat uii House dfour., as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased mcm.b and at 4.55 p.m. the House rose td! •2.50 n Tuesday.