PARLIAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 June 1924, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

OPENING CEIIf*MONY GGVERNOR-GENER AL’S SPEECH. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, June 26 Honourable gentlemen of the Legislative Council and gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— The necessity for the attendance of my Prime Minister at the Imperial Conference and the Imperial Economic Conference in London last year, which had rendered it desirable to summon the General Assembly to meet pt an earlier, date than is customary, also led to the session closing before the usual time. In consequence the recess has exceeded the normal period. The resignation of His Majesty’s Government as the result of the general election held shortly after the Imperial Conferences referred to was followed by the accession to power of an entirely new Administration, which has in some important matters arrived at conclusions differing from the resolutions passed by those conferences. However much they may regret this result, my Ministers, recognise clearly that an Administration whose Prime Minister was not present, and which was not otherwise represented at the Imperial Conferences, must necessarily be absolutely free to determine whether it will or ff'ill 'Hit support in Parliament resolutions passed at such conferences. The policy of this Dominion which provides special preference to British Empire trade, was adopted without request on our part for reciprocal treatment, and remains unaffected. My Ministers will propose an extension of that prefer ence by an increase in the proportion of British production or manufacture which gives title tq the advantage in Cntsoms duties.

The special service squadron of the Royal Navy, under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Field, received an enthusiastic welcome from the people of New Zealand. The presence in our waters of so large a number of His Majesty's ships, headed by the magnificent battle-cruiser Hood, and the generous opportunity granted for public inspection, enabled many to appreciate the power of the great service of which tiiose ships form a part, and to which New Zealand has so recently owed the preservation of its trade and commerce during the war. 111 one ship of the squadron, the lightcruiser Dunedin, New Zealand lias a special interest, since that vessel of the most modern design has been selected by the Admiralty to replace the Chatham in the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy. I was also glad, with my -Ministers, to welcome the presence in the squadron of the Adelaide, one of the ships of the Royal Australian Navy. The- subsequent voyage of the squadron along the coasts of the Western Samoan Islands and its stay for a time off Apia has afforded great astisfaction tc my Ministers, and to the administration of the islands. It was of special importance that the natives of Samoa should have the opportunity thus provided for them. .The British Empire Exhibition at \\embley, recently opened by His Majesty, is attracting great numbers of visitors not only from the people of Great Britain, but also from all the territories of the Empire. The principal object of the exhibition—to provide specimens of the products of the various parts of the Empire for the inspection of those interested in the relative trades —will be completely served so far as this Dominion is concerned by the efforts of our country to ensure a complete exhibit of its products, and my Ministers have reason to hone that the financial results will not disappoint the Government, who have rendered themselves responsible for the large expense involved. My Ministers availed themselves of the voluntary services of a number of gentlemen in New Zealand who agreed to act as an advisory council. The Dominion is much indebted to those gentlemen for the interest they showed, and the care and attention they gave to ensure tile full tries. On their advice, Mr A. F. representation of our principal indusRoberts was appointed New Zealand Commissioner to the Exhibition. , The British Nationality and Status of Aliens in New Zealand Act of your last session, which was reserved for His Majesty’s assent has recently received the Royal approval, and has become part of the law of New Zealand, and is also now operative under our mandatory authority in Western Samoa. Very satisfactory progress has been made for the relief of discharged soldier settlers by the Dominion Board, established by the legislation of last session. With the assistance of the District Revaluation Committee, the Board has been able to consider a very large number of applications, and mv

Ministers trust it will be found that the process of revaluation and reduction of rent and interest, and in some cases of capital, will enable the majority of our discharged soldiers settled on the land to look forward to success with renewed hope. It has for some time been recognised that the main difficulty arises in eases where the land was purchased by the soldiers themselves from private individuals with a first mortgage to the Crown for its advance and subsidiary mortgages to the vendors. In a number of instances of' this class the hoard has been able to effect satisfactory arrangements as between the mortgagor and the second mortgagee. The policy established by the Act, together with the approaching termination of the general mortgages extension, necessitated the increase (provided by your Act of last session) of the maximum amount permitted under the State Advances Act from £200!) to £3500 for settlors, and from £750 to £1250 for’ workers, and the increase by £2.250,000 of the authorisation of loans for advances to settlers and workers. Applications for advances have been received far in excess of the increased authorisation. The success of the efforts of the State Advances Department to cope with the increased demand is exemplified by the fact that during the financial year ended March 31 loans to the amount of £8,066,202 were authorised and £6,205,686 actually paid. Further moneys are being supplied to the office, and a constant effort is maintained to deal speedily with all applications. The effect of the Aleut Export Control Act, followed hv the Dairy Industry Control Act of your last session, has beep satisfactory to the producers. The establishment of hoards with statutory authority to negotiate for shipping and freights and to control the rate of supply to markets abroad has already provided many beneficial results. The fruit producers of. the Dominion have indicated a desire for the establishment of a fruit industry control, hoard with similar powers, "and legislation with that object has been prepared, and will he submitted for your consideration. The Alain Highways Board has been established, and has done much valuable preliminary work, including the definition of a number of main highways. A on will bo asked to consider ways and means for providing sufficient .funds to enable the important duties of the hoard to ho carried out. The Mortgages Extension Acts expire at the end of the present year.

it is not considered a dvisa hi© to continue the automatic operations of extension beyond that period. The present Acts apply only to mortgages executed before October, 1919, and there is reason to believe that the great majority of those mortgages have already been the subject of arrangements between the several mortgagors and mortgagees, having the effect of excluding the statutory extension. But it is also believed that there are a limited number o'f eases where the immediate removal of all protection might create considerable hardship to the mortgagors. My Ministers will therefore submit to you legislation which, while allowing the general protection to expire at the end of the present year, v ill entitle mortgagors who can prove special hardship to anply to a Supreme Court Judge for a further extension not exceeding two years. Under the previous Acts the mortgagee has always had the right to apply to the Court for leave to exercise his powers, though tery little advantage has been taken of the statutes in that respect. Under the measure to he proposed to you any mortgagor who desires an extension is compelled to apply to the Court for an opportunity to prove his case and to satisfy the Court that there are special reasons in the case which Justify a'brief extension.

1 wo measures of special importance which were in part before you last session will; my Ministers hope, lie agreed to and become law during your present session. The first is a Bill to consolidate and simplify the land laws of the Dominion, and the second a Bill to biing all the lands of the Dominion under the provisions of the Land .transfer Act within a definite period, with a special provision for the issue ot provisional certificates in the case of infirm titles.

Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,—

The Royal Commission appointed to consider the system and incidence of and and income taxation in New £ealand has presented a, unanimous report, which in due course will he laid upon the table of your House. The report of another commission appointed to consider the effect of forestry reserve upon the revenue of local bodies has also been received by me, and will he made available for your deliberation, the receipts of revenue during the last financial years have been satisfactory. Itc-onomy has been practised in all departments, the resn|t being that the accounts of the year closed with -a surplus of £1,812,366. Proposals for certain remissions of taxation will he submitted.

Honourable Gentlemen of the Legisfia!ii Ve C° unc 'd and Gentlemen of r , tlle House of Representatives,— specially Qualified gentlemen liom Jingland are at present engaged m investigating the conditions appertaining to the railways of New booth Wales. My Ministers propose to take advantage 0 f tiieir presence in AustraJia to institute a Royal Commission, of which, they will be members, to- carry out an exhaustive iiiouirv into the wiioie system of control of our New Zealand railways, and to advise thereon. loe subject of fishing rights in the in tenor waters of the Dominion lias been under the consideration of my Got eminent. Legislation is necessary to pieyent the sale of such rights, whether in the gross or as attached to riparian ownership, and especially to pi event the acquisition by persons not lesident in the Dominion of power to exclude others from certain waters. A Bill having those objects will be laid keiore you. My Ministers anticipate that you may find it necessary to postpone finally settling the whole subject matter pending a special investigation into the nature and existence of the but that you may consider it sufficient, in the meantime, to prohibit any such dealings. In addition to die legislation to which I have made special reference, you will have submitted for consideration, along with other measures, Bills dealing with the stamp laws, the Chattels Security Acts, motor vehicles, cppyrights, publicNvorks, education, defence, local bodies loans, war funds, police offences, and publicdebt reduction.

r My. term of office as Governor of rsev Zealand will expire at the' end of September next, and I shall be leaving the Dominion towards the end of .November. The severance of the ties which have with ever - increasing strength bound me in close attachment to the people of New Zealand, will cause me the deepest possible regret. Our sojourn here has been a time of great interest and of unalloyed happiness to her Ihxcellency and myself. As the representative of His Majesty, I have witnessed with the keenest satisfaction the spirit of fervent loyalty to the Throne and Empire, which is so marked a. characeristic of the people of New Zealand, and of which so many proofs have been given. 1 have watched with great pleasure the increased production and the p;rowth in trade of the Dominion, and the manner in which the recovery from the aftermath of the war has been effected is a subject for sincere congratulation. The birth and development of the New Zealand Division of the Koval Navy during my term of office and the high standard attained by the recruits entering the service have been of much interest to me as a naval officer.

To the nnst and present members of the two Houses of the Legislature with whom I have been associated 1 beg to express my keen appreciation of their uniform courtesy and consideration, and 1 should like to take this opportunity also of voicing my wannest gratitude to the people of this Dominion for their exceeding kindness to her Excellency, myself and to the members of our family. The future prosperity of New Zealand and the welfare and happiness of its people will, ever be matters of profound interest to me. Finally, [ express the earnest hope that Divine Providence may guide your deliberations and further the welfare of the people of the Dominion. NO CONFIDENCE MOTION. (Bv Telegraph.—Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON. June 26. The Liberal Opposition decided at a caucus to move a motion of no confidence on the address-in-reply motion in the House.