SESSION OPENS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16374, 23 June 1927, Page 8

SESSION OPENS

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH ROYAL VISIT RECALLED REVIEW OF LEGISLATION RIGID ECONOMY NEEDED SOME DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. (Parliamentary Reporter. | WELLINGTON, this day. Addressing members of Parliament at the opening of the session this afternoon, His Excellency the Governor-General, Sii Charles Fergusson, slated: "Honorable gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and gentlemen of the House of Representatives: It is with pleasure that I again meet you in Parliament assembled. Since your last session ! have had further opportunities of visiting various parts of the Dominion, and have been deeply impressed by the spirit of loyalty which is every when l in evidence, as well as the warmth of tin? welcome extended to me as 11 iy Majesty's representative. "The visit of their Royal Highnesses the Duke arid Duchess of York aroused great enthusiasm throughout the Dominion, and provided an occasion for a demonstration of loyalty to the Crown and personal regard for .the Sovereign and the Royal Family. The welcome to our lloyal visitors was m every way as whole-hearted as that which was accorded in previous years to their -Majesties the King and Queen, and to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. At the Maori gathering at Rotorua our fellowsubjects of the native race again strikingly demonstrated their loyalty to the Sovereign in .accordance with their customs and usages. Tlie visit of their lloyal Highnesses, T. am confident, will still further strengthen the ties which bii,ill the citizens of this Dominion to the Motherland. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. ' The Imperial Conference, at which Ibis Dominion was represented by the Prime Minister and tlie lit. Hon. Sir Francis Bell, last year, was notable for many important resolutions, some of which affect the Colonial Laws Validity Act, the reserving of bills, and the extraterritorial operation of 'Dominion legislation. These subjects have been referred by the Imperial Conference to a commit tas which, after consultation with the Dimi'K'iis, vil! advise, whether special legislation is necessary to give effect to the resolutions. Other matters ' dealt with, at the Imperial Conference are de fine 1 in a report of the proceedings which will be laid beiore you at an early date. "At the conclusion. of the Electing oi the Imperial Coi feienca, my Prime Minister visited the graves of our soldiers in France ami Belgium. He was deeplj impiv.-ssed by the. care and attention which had been exercised by the Imperial War Craves. Commission in carrying out the. work entrusted to tTie.ir charge. 'The oper.mg of the Federal House of F.-.rl.amci.t at Canberra in May last was an event of outstanding importance 'in the history o* fhe sister Dominion of Australia. " New Zealand was represented at tl.e ceremony by/ the Minister of Lvkls, through whom New Zealand's congratulations to the Commonwealth were tracMnnted. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. " At. the Assembly of the League a. Nations at Geneva last year the Dominion was represented by the Rt, Hon. Sir Emncis Bell and by the High Commissioner. The most important event at this meeting was the admission of Germany as a, member of the League, with a permanent seat on the Council. A report of the proceedings has been prepared and' will be laid before you in due course. " During the recess the .Minister of External Affairs has visited tlie mandated territory of Samoa, and personally discussed with tho Administrator anil inhabitants of the territory matters pertaining to the welfare ol" both races. The continued progress of the native population in their conditions of livelihood, their general prosperity, and their confidence in the administration of their affairs are matters for satisfaction. It is gratifying also to know that the reports furnished to "the League of Nations in accordance with tho terms of the mandate held by New- Zeala,nd have earned the commendation of the permanent Mandates .Commission of the League, t " At the instance of President Coolidge a disarmament conference has commenced its deliberations at Geneva. My Ministers havo arranged for the Dominion to be represented by the High {Commissioner, Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe, and Rear-Admiral Beal. THE FINANCIAL POSITION. " Mr. Speaker and gentlemen of the House of Representatives: " The results of the financial year ended on March 31 last are very' satisfactory, especially so in view of the uncertainty of' the financial position during the period. The surplus of revenue over expenditure amounted to £587,000. Part of this surplus has been utilised to reduce the public, debt, and tlie balance carried forward to meet any extraordinary demands that may arise during tho present year. " My Ministers are of the opinion that in view of the general and financial outlook for the current year rigid economy must obtain. To this end my Ministers have again arranged for a special committee to scrutinise carefully tho Estimates and report as to the measures to be taken to ensuro economy ami strict control of expenditure. A further loan of £6,000,000, issued at £99 10s per, cent., bearing interest at 5 per ceo*., has been successfully floated in London, and the proceeds will be devoted to the construction and improvement of railways, hydro-electric, power stations, and other public works designed 'to assist in the development of the productive power of the Dominion.

" I mentioned in my speecli at the opening of the last session of Parliament that in connection with naval defence my advisers were of the opinion that more should be done before New Zealand could claim to have taken her fair share of the burden of the defence of fhe Empire. In the discussion at the. Imperial Conference the Prime Minister of Great Britain stated emphatically that the best form of assistance that the Dominions could give would be by way of a contribution to the cost of the naval base at Singapore, and my advisers intend: to submit proposals in that respect' for your consideration. NEW LAWS IN FORCE.

" For the purpose of co-ordinating and ret^dhiting the borrowing of local authorities and of giving local governing bpdi.es the benefit of experience, a Local Government Loans Board Act was passed last year. In pursuanco of the Act, a representative board has been appointed and lias taken up the duty of investigating the loan proposals brought forward by the local authorities. It is anticipated that tlio operations of the board will be of great benefit to the local bodies concerned 1 and to the Dominion generally. " Following the report of the 'Commission whieli investigated the, question of rural credits in other countries, a Rural Advances Act was passed .last session and came into operation on April 1, Loans are now being.granted, and as soon as sufficient mortgages have

been cited for the purpose it is proposed to issue bonds secured on the mortgages, and it is hoped that investors will take up the bonds and thereby assist in financing the farmer. TARIFF REVISION. " During tho recess a Royal Commission of departmental experts was appointed to consider and report upon tho revision of the Customs tariff. This commission lias been taking evidence in various parte of the Dominion, and its report should shortly be received. A new tariff will then be prepared and submitted lor your scrutiny and revision. You will appreciate that the intended introduction of a tariff prohibits any intimation being given at this stage of the session of the proposals of my Ministers with regard to alterations in the methods or subjects of taxation. " It has been the aim of my advisers to improve the trade relations of this Dominion with other countries, laud especially to foster trade within the F.mpire.' With this effd in view various conferences with representative people were held by my Prime Minister during his visit to England and to Canada, and also by the Minister of Industries and Commerce during his recent visit to Australia. " The question of land settlement has been receiving the earnest consideration of my advisers, whose difficulties in this respect have been greatly accentuated by the prevailing unfavorable economic conditions. The protracted instability in the prices of our primary products in the world's markets, together with the mcreiased cost of development, has been reflected in a corresponding uncertainty in land values and has so seriously affected the position of many of Ij'he' country's setfcleiis tohafc /available resources have been severely taxed in an endeavor to place them on a sound footing. MAORI ARTS AND CUAFTS. "The Maori Arts and Crafts Act which was included in the legislation passed last session was brought into operation during the recess. As members are a.ware the main principles of the Act are to foster and encourage the study and practice of Maori arts and crafts. The board set up to admisister the Act has entered upon its duties with enthusiasm. 1 am pleaesed to give i\nc acknowledgment lor the Maoris themselves for their interest in the legislation passed, and in its administration. "One of the principal Avis passed last, session was that providing for town and regional planning schemes. It is encouraging to note the interest and spirit which local governing bodies have shown in the legislation. It lias been recognised that in this young and fastgrowing country "regard must be had for the future in making provision for the laying out of closely populated areas. "My Ministers think that in accordance with the new spirit existing in international relations the time is now opportune to review some of the legislation passed,during the war period. An Act was passed in 1922 removing certain disabilities arising from nationality, and it is now proposed to introduce a Bill lemoviiii; the. disabilities imposed on subjects of enemy races relating fp employment, in educational work, the acquisition of land, and immigration,. It is also proposed to repeal the special provisions of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1919, whereby a British woman being the wife of 'a person of enemy origin may pptition for divorce 'n certain cases. AMENDING! DKUISLATI.ON, • "Bills will also ,be submitted to you for the purpose of compiling and amending the existing law relating to Public Service superannuation, public works, Justices of Peace, magistrates' counts, divorce and matrimonial causes, and education reserves. "The establishment of Childrens' Courts under the Child Welfare Act. has proved of great benefit in dealing with juvenile delinquents. Certain amendments, however, have been found necessary to improve the working of the Act, and an amending Rill will be laid before you. A Bill to amend the Bankruptcy Act will also be introduced. It is proposed to include in this 'Bill provisions which will' further secure the position of those making advances to dairy-farmers on the security of their milk cheques, and thus make'easier the finance, of those engaged in this impor,tast national industry. '.'.'.' "Bills will.be submitted dealing with amendments to the law#ifekting to industrial disputes, siiops and offices legislation, motor vehicles, stock and property law, J,a«d, mining, licensing, and other m/ittjers. "f commend these various matters to your careful attention, and I earnestly hope that Divine providence, may guide your deliberations to the furtherance of the happiness and welfare, of the people of this Dominion." "