PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 19553, 29 June 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

THE OPENING CEREMONY GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S SPEECH WANT OF CONFIDENCE MOTIONS. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 28. The fourth session of the twentieth Parliament opened this afternoon with the customary ceremonial. The main entrance to the buildings is now completed, and it presented an appearance in marked contrast to that of recent years, when the precincts of Parliament were cluttered with stagings and heaps of builders’ material. Punctually at 2.30 the Governor-General accompanied by Lady Jellicoe, arrived Sy the main entrance of Parliament. Buildings, in front which were lined up a detachment from the HJLS. Chatham, who acted as a guard of honour. There was also present a company of Senior Cadets from Scots College and the Scottish Society’s pipe band, which played the Chatham’s men into position. The National Anthem was played by the Regimental Band from Trentham. His Excellency was met at the steps by General Sir Edward Chaytor and Commodore Hotham, of the Chatham, whom he ac comp&nied on an inspection of the guard of honour. His Excellency then proceeded to the Legislative Council where he read his speech to members of both houses. The Legislative Council assembled at 2.25. His Excellency the Governor-General entered with his suite, headed by Generals Richardson and Chaytor. His Excellency having commanded members to resume their seats, Black Rod departed to summon the members of the House of Representatives, who arrived preceded by the Speaker, Sir Frederick Lang, and the Clerk of the House, Mr E. W. Kane. AU the members of the Cabinet except Sir Francis Bell were present. Lord Jellicoe then read the Speech from the Throne, which was as follows : Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentleman of the House of Representatives.— It is with sincere pleasure that I again meet you in Parliament assembled. During the recess the marriage of the only daughter of our most gracious Sovereign with Viscount Lascelles intensified the loyal sentiment which permeates the Empire and provided an opportunity for an expression of the deep affection in which Their Majesties are heki on behalf of the people of this Doramfen. I sect. suitable messages of congratulation to which I received gracious replies from His Majesty and Princess Mary.

The unusual shortness of the recess and the need fur paying constant personal attention to the important affairs ansing in this Daminion prevented my Prime Minister from accepting the invitation extended to him to attend the recent Conference held at Genoa. My Attorney-General who is visiting Great Britain was appointed to represent, New Zealand, but was able to attend only the later stages of the Conference. In his absence the members of the English delegation were asked to act for thi« Dominion. He has also been appointed to represent New Zealand al the conference now being held at The Hague. A very important conference dealing with the subject of national disarmament was held last year at Washington at which th* Hon. Sir John Salmond was appointed io represent this Dorn inion. The results of this coafferencc exceeded expectations and have laid a sound foundation for peace among those nations that participated in it. Papers relating to this conference will be laid before you for your information.

A conference of delegates from those nations constituting the League of Nations was held last year at Genoa at which the High CommissMMier fur New Zealand represented thia Dominion. Papers will be laid before you relating to this conference and you will be asked to pass resolutions confirming certain of its decisions.

For reasons already mentioned it was found impossible for either myself or my Prime Minister to visit the islands of the Samoan Group dimng the recess as had been proposed. Papers relating to the government of the mandated islands have been prepared and will be placed before you in due course.

Since, the closing of last -session of Parliament I have had an opportunity of visiting many parts of the Dominion. Everywhere I have been received with ranch cordiality and have heard expression given to the deep loyalty to the Throne which animates the people of New Zealand. I have noticed with pleasure the prevalence of an optimistic feeling for the future and a conviction that the difficulties which were felt when I last addressed you are in a fair way to be overcome. Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.— The estimates have been prepared with a view to rigid economy. Much has been done in curtailing public expenditure rince I last met you but my advisers are of opinion that much more must be done in order to maintain the desired equilibrium in the finances of the Dominion. I feel sure that you will give your earnest assistance towards such a desirable objective. The signal success of the 5 per cent, five million loan recently floated in London at par is a gratifying indication of the prestige and credit this Dominion enjoys in the financial centre of the world. It is essential that development must proceed vigorously by making more land available for .-ettiers and by increasing the facilities for internal transport. The greater j>art. of the loan will be used for these purposes. Special pro vision is being made to cope with such unemployment as may occur during the winter months.

The new Customs tariff passed last session is working smoothly and is giving general satisfaction. During the recess my Minister of Customs visited the Commonwealth of Australia with the object of negotiating for a reciprocal tariff arrangement between this Dominion and the Commonwealth. The tentative agreement there en tered into will in due course be submitted to Parliament. The usual bills relating to finance have been prepared for your consideration, including the annual taxing bill and also certain amendments of the Land and Income Tax Act relating to the inci dence of taxation. There will also bo sub nutted for your consideration a bill relat ing to the management of the public debt.

Honourable Gentlemen of the legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— It is with great satisfaction that 1 note that there has been a material advance in the prices of our staple products and at the same time a considerable saving in the cost of production. It is also a matter for congratulation that Manchester, Bristol, Hull and other large centres in the United Kingdom are now asking for direct shipments of New Zealand products. The Meat Export Control Act passed last session is working satisfactorily and has already been the means of reducing the cost of marketing the frozen meat products of the Dominion. The confident anticipations of my advisers with respect to the commercial and financial recovery of the Dominion as expressed to you in my speech when I last met you are now being realised, but some time must elapse before this improvement can be reflected in the country’s finances. My advisers are satisfied that if continued vigilance is exercised over expenditure the grit and determination so characteristic of our

people, combined with the many natural advantages of our Dominion, will enable it to emerge within a comparatively short time from financial difficulties which arc inseparable from the aftermath of a great war.

Bills consolidating various Acts, especially those relating to harbours, the Public Trust (Wee and stamp duties will be submitted for your consideration. You will also be asked to consider among other legislative measures amendmezrte of the Land Act, the

Aot- and Ceal Minas Art, the Indus

trial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, tho Public Works Act and the Native Load Act. At the request of the Imperial Gov* eminent legislation will be introduced making provision for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments obtained in superior courts within the Empire. Legislation will also be introduced making provision for the establishment of what are known as agricultural or people's bank.". These institutions which are primarily for the benefit of small agriculturalists and artisans operate by means of a system of co-operative credit and have proved to be highly successful in several European countries and also in Canada and the United States. In view of the length of last session and the large amount of important legislatiOß which was then passed my advisers are of opinion that this session should not be of more than average duration, thus permitting; members to have a proper opportunity at visiting their constituencies before the data of the general election. I commend aA these matters to your earnest consideratioß ami pray that. Divine Providence may Ml gukie your deliberations that the result wil be for the good of the Empire and of lata* ing benefit to the people of this Dominao®, The reading of the speech occupied te® minutes, and the proceedings ended ac 2.41, when the Governor-General and Lady JeUb coe left tlie Chamber and returned to Gtah emment House.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. When the Council met after the Of*eoa®g ceremony Sir Walter Buchanan, wheta term of office expired recently, was r»sworu. an a member. Sir WILUAM FRASER announced tbti4ta would lead the Cooocii in the absence of tjir Francis Bell, who was unlikely to be badc for some months. Members congtaXuiatod Sir William Franer on his afipoiAtmoni. as leader of th* Council. house of REPREsaacrftnyES. The House met at X3O pjn. and *m immediately summoned to the Leif Mina Council. Ou cesummg the Hombh desli. with i*> mal buauaew. .Amongst the petHkms pen seated were a number praying for amntai. menl of the Gaming Act mgaitdmg th* licemiug of bookmakers. These ware sM prese-nlrd by members <rf the Labour Part,. MR WILFORD gave notice of his mten tarn to moue an amend™-"*, to the motions That a respectful addsos be peamied ta His ExceUeucy m reply to has speech de. lioered to the members of both hoons. MR HOLLAND gave notice of ta mtom tmn to move the following amendment on

the rnntinu to go into commauee on the Imprest Supply Bill ; (1) This House cxpmmce the opiraou that as the latest tigims reveal that them has beeu no fall in U» cost of living as t-ween March, 1220, and March, 1222, the Government, was not warranted in reducing the salaries of public seraaata, and thgareforo restitution should be made al least to the lower paid employees. (21 That A rirauld be immediately annormeed that there will be no farther reduction m pub-

lic servants’ wdataw in July. (21 Dm house disapprove of the Goeerxuneuta atUtttdo towards the members of the Poss and Telegraph Officers’ Aseocralata beeasm of their pertcctly constitmionajL detisrou to affiliate with the Affiance of Labour, every affiliation of which is duly registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Artutmtiou Act. (41 Tins House cooderarM the Gooemmem for its failure to deal eiler-weiy with the problem ol nuacipkismem. The PRIME MINISTER mowed the final reading of the Expiring Law Osntinosnss Bill which was agreed to on the wanes. MR MASSEY, in reply to Mr WiKoreLsad that to-morrow he proposed to go on with the usual motions of condolence, with ths relatives of deceased members ami with the Imprest Supply Bill on Friday. He rawed the adjortrnment of the House, winch tos| at (La. THE OPPOSITION GROUP WANT' OF CONFIDENCE MOHONa (Special to the Tunes.) WELLINGTON. June 28. When the House met to-day, the new Labour member, Mr J. W. Monro (Dunedaa North) had not arrived, and Mr Statham (Dunedin Central) had disappeared from the front Opposition bench that he shared with Mr Wilforti at the end of last seation, and had resumed his former seat among the semi-detached and independent. Iffierals at the back. Mr T. K Stdey CDuaedia Ssuth) was with Mr Wiliord. Ministers and members went to hear the Govemor-Generai’s speech made. They were hack wthm a quarter ot an hour, and then a labour member itcreeutiri the first petition, a bulky document iwajnng ihr House to permit boofcmafccrs to come

to life again under a systom <rf license. Other nsmtoers had similar petitions, the total number of rignatiires being well over 12,008. Then came the notices of motims Mr W. H. Field totakij was on hie feet at once with a request (or utioenration about the tubmtitms of the GoreriMueot ctmceming soldier settlers. Ho suggested that it wtxrM tie bettor to face the neeewrty for revaluation al once rather than to postpone temporarily payment of mtarael and rents.

The Leader of the Qppreation game notina of bis intention to move an lunenckuent to the AddreuLn-Replt. This is the usual manner of presenting a want of wmudones motion.

The latbour Party’s lender (M r HoUaad} followed immedcuely with a notice of amendment to the motion to go into committee upen the imprest Supply Bill a® Friday. I’his means that be will ge® ahead of Mr Wffford with Hfe attack upethe Government.