PARLIAMENT OPENS

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1943, Page 1

PARLIAMENT OPENS

GOVERNOR’S SPEECH Servicemen’s Interests [Per Press Association] WELLINGTON. Feb. 24. The fifth session of the TwentySixth Parliarfflßht was opened this afternoon with the customary ceremony by the Governor-General (St Cyril Newall) who read the speech from the Throne. He stated:— “Honourable gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Members of the House of Representatives: When last I addressed .you the British Commonwealth and its Allies were preparing to meet, with what resources could be made available at, short noice, the first overwhelming flood of Japanese aggression. By the gallant resistance, particularly, of American and Australian forces, with whom New Zealand naval and air units have been closely and effectively associated with in' action, that flood, which spread far and wide and most grievously damaged Allied interests in this part of the world, has now been stemmed, and appears to be receding. It is not only in the Pacific that most promising and heartening results have been achieved. In the Middle East the enemy have been thrown out of Libya and Tripolitania, and in this victorious campaign the New Zealand troops have again 5 played a memorable part, of which the whole Dominion is justifiably proud. The landing in North Africa of British and American forces has rapidly cleared all but a small portion of that area from Axis influence, while in Europe the invading hordes of Germany and her satellites have met with a military defeat of huge and as yet incalculable magnitude ar. the hands of the heroic Russians, Though the way will still, no doubt, be long and hard, with many stern struggles to meet and heavy difficulties to overcome, my Ministers are convinced, from the developments of th e last few months and from the information at their disposal, that, if every effort continues to be bent to this great task, the end is certain, and may not be as distant as previously appeared to be probable. On all fronts the 1 Allies have now been able to abandon the defensive strategy that was forced upon them in the early stages of the .war,, and to prepare for a general attack on the aggressors. The momentous meeting at Casablanca between President Roosevelt and Mr, Churchill and their advisers has been welcomed by my Government as an occasion of profound significance for the course of the war. The year 1943 will, it is confidently expected, be one of wide Allied offensives. .

. “We have been most happy to welcome to the Dominion in large numbers the members of United States Armed Forces, whose relations with our own people are most cordial, and whose exemplary behaviour has earned our warmest admiration.

“The .people of the Dominion have met the demands of war with a spirit worthy of the highest commendation, and my Gvernment are most appreciative of the efforts of all sections of the community, in the armed forces and in the various subsidiary war efforts, in industry, in agriculture and in ordinary civil life. “My Ministers feel that the war effort of the Maori race has been especially praiseworthy. Organised and controlled by the Maori people themselves, through their own leaders, in accordance with their own customs and traditions, their response has been magnificent and their Pakeha comrades fully share their pride in the world-wide renown for courage and the highest fighting qualities that the Maori troops have so gallantly won. “The marked improvement of the position in th e Pacific and the necessity, for essential war purposes, of maintaining to the full the productiqii of the Dominion seem to nty advisers to indicate the desirability of some readjustment of the measures that they have, up to .the present, considered it necessary to take for the local defence of New Zealand. This matter is now receiving their close and earnest consideration, and their proposals in this connection will be laid before you for discussion during, this session. i "My advisers ar e devoting special attention to the difficult and intricate problems that will be involved in the rehabilitation into civil life of the men of the armed, forces. Their proposals in this connection are well atl ‘ vanced, and they are confident that they will be able to meet all requirements as they arise, with due regard to the generous treatment of discharged .soldiers, sailors, and airmen, and without dislocation of the economic life of the Dominion. “My Ministers have devoted considerable care and attention to the question of stabilization, and comprehensive measures have been adopted towards the attainment of this end. “Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives: Until it ends in complete victory for the United Nations, the war must continue to absorb an ever-increasing proportion of the Dominion’s resources. For the purposes of New Zealand’s total war effort and tor local defence the Dominion is receiving from the United States of America, in large proportions and pn lend lease terms, weapons, equipment and other supplies which cannot be produced in New Zealand. For our part, we are rendering to -he American forces in the Pacific us much aid as is within our power m the form of foodstuffs, primary products services, materials and labour for construction. These efforts are reflected in the Dominion’s war finance, which now absorbs more than half ’of the national men no, a burden which must inevitably increase. The aim of my Government is to finance war expenditure as much as possible from current revenue, and uo to the present approximately half the cost has been met in this way. 1 “Honourable gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Members of the Blouse of Representatives: It. is the intention of my Ministers during this session, which they feel should be confined, in the present circumstances, as far as possible, to war measures, to transact only such business as is essential, among which will be included a revision of the legislation relating to war pensions, and measures to facilitate the success of their proposals for promoting the rehabilitation and economic security

of returned servicemen. “It will be necessary, however, for Parliament to consider, among other matters, the desirability of holding a General Election this year, and the views of my advisers on this matter will bo placed before you in duo courso. In all your deliberations I pray that God may be your guide to the lasting benefit of the Dominion & the advancement of the cause for which we fight,”