SESSION'S WORK

Northern Advocate, 26 June 1924, Page 5

SESSION'S WORK

OUTLINED IN SPEECH. GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS. '.THEIR EXCELLENCIES' FARE- '• . ~ WELLi .. • ' / to "Northern Advocate.'') f •=•>?' WELLINGTON, This' Day. The third session,of the 21st Pariia- , ;ment of New Zealand opened this with the accustomed ccth.mony. The Speech from.: the ; Throne was delivered by His Excellency Vis•count Jellicoe in the Legislative Coiin>cil Chamber, the text being as follows: 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 at an earlier date than is customary, also led to the session closing before the usual time. In consequence the recess lias •exceeded the normal period.

EMPIRE PREFERENCE. The resignation of His Majesty's iGovernment 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 they may regret 'this result, my Ministers recognise •clearly that an Administration whose Prime Minister Avas not present and which was not otherwise represented .at the Imperial Conferences must necessarily be absolutely free to deter•mine whether it will or will not 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 fbr reciprocal treatment, and remains unaffected. My Ministers will propose an extension of that preference by an increase in the proportion of British production or manufacture which gives title to the advantage in Customs ■fluties. THE NAVAL VISIT. 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 Ilood, .and the generous opportunity granted for public inspection enabled many to appreciate the power of the great service of which those ships form a part, j and to which New Zealand lias so recently owed the preservation of its trade and commerce during war. In j one ship of the squadron, the light cruiser Dunedin, New Zealand has a ! special interest, since that vessel, of- j the most modern design, has been j selected by the Admiralty to replace j the Chatham in the New Zealand Divi- j sion of the Royal Navy. I was also j glad with my Ministers to welcome the j presence in the squadron of the Adc- I laide, one of the ships of the Royal Australian Navy.

The subsequent voyage of the Squadron along the coasts of the Western Samoan Islands and itsi stfty.for a time off Apia has afforded great satisfaction to 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.

EMPIRE EXHIBITION. The British Empire Exhibition at Wembley, 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 arts 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 exhibition of its products, and my Ministers have reason to hope that the financial results will not disappoint the Governments 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 the full representation of our principal industries. On their advice Mr A. F.. Roberts was appointed New Zealand Commissioner to the Exhibition. LAW CONCERNING ALIENS. Tlie British Nationalty 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.