OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21578, 25 February 1932, Page 10

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

HIS EXCELLENCY’S ADDRESS

MEASURES TO MEET THE CRISIS Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: In conformity with the advice of my Ministers I have summoned this special session of the new Parliament owing to the abnormal financial and economic position of the Dominion. At the general election my Government, in inviting an expression of the country’s confidence, appealed for unfettered authority in the existing emergency to adopt such measures for meeting it as circumstances might from time to time appear to justify. Since then Ministers have devoted their earnest attention to the difficult and complex problems confronting the Dominion, and suitable legislation will be submitted for your consideration. DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE. A general disarmament conference under the auspices .of the League of Nations is now meeting at Geneva, at which this Dominion is represented by its High Commissioner. It is earnestly hoped that this conference may lead to an effective reduction in world armaments. My Government views with deep regret the recent disturbance of peaceful relations between China and Japan, two nations with whom New Zealand has long enjoyed friendly commercial intercourse. We trust that' the efforts of Great Britain and the other Powers to effect reconciliation and peace may be fraught with success. ECONOMIC CONFERENCE. An Imperial Economic Conference is to meet at Ottawa in July next. My Ministers attach the utmost importance to this conference, the deliberations of which they are convinced will have a profound and lasting effect upon the economic welfare of the British Empire, and they are now engaged in taking the preliminary steps necessary to ensure the adequate representation of this Dominion and the due presentment of its views on Imperial trade. , TRADE AGREEMENTS. The commercial relations between the Dominions of Canada and New Zealand have for some time been receiving the earnest consideration of my Government, and with a view to reaching a satisfactory agreement my Minister of Customs has recently held a conference with the Canadian Minister of Trade and Commerce. I am happy to say that a provisional agreement has been reached which will be placed before you for ratification. My Government has recently arrived at a trade agreement with the Belgian' Government, and this also will be laid before you for endorsement. Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES. The economic difficulties which still beset the whole of the civilised world continue to affect the well-being of this Dominion, and unfortunately the hopes which were freely expressed last year that an improvement might be expected have not been realised. As New Zealand is dependent probably to a greater extent than any other country upon her overseas trade the external conditions have a very direct effect upon local prosperity. The low prices received for primary products continue to impose severe hardships upon the farming community, resulting in turn in a marked diminution in the general business of the country, and in the reduction of persona] incomes. All sections of the people are consequently being called upon to make sacrifices, and it is gratifying to note the determination and sense of public spirit with which the crisis is being met. The decline in trade is intimately reflected in the Public Accounts, and it is estimated that the year will close with a deficit which is' unavoidable in the circurn stances. . Details of the present and prospective position of the public vfinances will be duly placed before you. Steps have already been taken greatly to curtail the expenditure upon public works, but the resources likely to be available for this purpose will be so

THE EMERGENCY SESSION SPEECH FROM THE THRONE REVIEW OF ECONOMIC CRISIS (Per United, Press Association.) WELLINGTON. February 24. With traditional ceremony the official opening of Parliament by the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) was performed to-day. The Vice-Regal party left Government House at 2.15, the departure being signalled by a salute of 19 guns fired by the Royal New Zealand Artillery from Point Jerningham, Light rain fell as the party entered Parliament grounds, where his Excellency inspected the Guard of Honour provided by St. Patrick’s College Cadets, while Lady Bledisloe was escorted to her place in the Legislative Council Chamber. Her Excellency was presented with a charming bouquet by the Speaker of the Legislative Council, who also presented Mrs Forbes with a bouquet. Among those present on the floor of the Chamber was the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers). On entering Parliament House after inspecting the guard. Lord Bledisloe was met by the Gentleman Usher of Black Rod (Mr A. T. Bothamley) and members of the naval and military staffs. Taking his seat on the throne, his Excellency commanded Black Rod to summon members of the House of Representatives, who shortly afterwards filed in and took their seats at the rear of the chamber. They were preceded by the Speaker (Sir Charles Statham), who occupied a position in the centre of the chamber facing his Excellency. The Speech from the Throne was then read by Lord Bledisloe as follows: —

seriously diminished by the existing financial stringency that my ministers consider a further drastic reduction to be inevitable. An economy commission has recently been appointed to review and report upon the public expenditure in its aspects, and also to indicate the directions in which further economies may be effected. Copies of the Commission’s reports will in due course be placed before you. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIES. With a view to the prudent and progressive development of secondary industries a special Development of Industries Committee has been set up in pursuance of legislation passed last year, and my Ministers confidently hope that its investigations will lead to the closer application of science to industry and to the expansion upon sound lines of manufacturing enterprise. MORTGAGORS RELIEF ACT. Experience having shown that the provisions of the Mortgagors Relief Act are inadequate to cope with the present conditions it is proposed to review and extend the existing legislation on this subject. THE ECONOMIC CRISIS. Measures will be submitted for your consideration for improving the method of unemployment relief, for amending the present arbitration system, and generally for meeting the special conditions which have arisen out of the current economic crisis. I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your deliberations. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Legislative Council met at 3 p.m. Notification of the vacancy caused by the death of Mr W. Earnshaw was received from the Governor-General. Mr J. B. Gow gave notice of his intention to move the Address-in-Reply motion. The Council rose at 3.5 p.m. until to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOTICE OF BILLS When members of the House of Representatives returned to their own chamber notice was given of intention to introduce the following Bills:—State Lottery Bill (Mr G. C. Black), Silver and Copper Coinage Bill (Mr C. A. Wilkinson). INTEREST ON MORTGAGES. Mr W. E. Parry (Auckland East) asked whether in view of the inadequacy of the present law to relieve the position of farmers and others with fixed financial obligations the Government intended to make a substantial statutory reduction in interest rates on leases, etc., providing for the right of appeal against any such reduction to be extended to mortagees or lessors. The Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) replied that the Government would announce its policy in regard to the fixed financial obligations of farmers and others at a later date. Mr J. M'Combs (Lyttelton) : Have you referred that matter to a commission? LOCAL LOAN POLICY. Mr Parry asked whether it was the intention of the Government during this session to raise sufficient money within New Zealand to carry out a forward policy of primary and secondary industrial development aS an alternative to raising taxes and lowering incomes to a starvation level. The Minister in Charge of Unemployment (Mr J. G. Coates) said he would make a statement on the subject shortly. SUMMER-TIME. Mr R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) asked whether the Government would introduce legislation extending summer-time from March 20 until April 3 so that it would include the Easter holidays. Mr Forbes replied that it was not intended to amend the Summer Time Act. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Mr A. J. Murdoch (Marsden) gave notice of his intention to move the formal Address-in-Reply motion. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) gave'notice of his intention to move an amendment to the Address-in-Reply motion. The House rose at 3.15 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.