Parliament Opened.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 45, 27 June 1929, Page 5

Parliament Opened.

The Governor's Speech.

Forecast Of Work For The Session.

- (.special lo x^vtit). i-t His Excellency the Uovemoi-Gein-erai delivered the. following speech from the Throne at the oijeniiig of Parliament thi s afternoon:—; Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives':

It is in) a spirit of thankfulness that in the opening paragraph of my speech I am able to record the satisfactory recovery of the K|ing from the serious illness from, which His Majesty suffered throughout a long and anxious period. The. citizens of this Dominion shared with the rest, of the Empire, and indeed with other nations, inj the feelings of pleasure and relief at His Majesty's return to goodi health. In December next I shall have completed, a- term ot nve years in office, and I have, received His. Majesty's permission! to leave the. Dominion on February Ist of next year.. It is with great regret tliatj Iter Excellency and. i see the time of our departure drawing near, after these years of great interest and * unalloyed. hapflhAass. From one and all we have received nothing but kindwess and consideration, and the friendly and generous way in'i which we have been welcomed on our journeys through the country will remain a happy memory for all time.' • *

THE MAORI RACE. Among the most pleasant of our recollections will be those of our lations with the people of the Maori race. During our stay in the Dominion all sections of the people have made us feel at. home among them and I take this opportunity of expressing to them our shAcer© gratitude. We shaft try in som e measure to' repay our debt to them by studying and promoting, the interest of the Dominion at Home, and our most «arnest desire will be that happir.tess, peace and prosperity may jpiver* be( vouchsafed t 0 New Zealand and her people. ~■.'*.. *

NEW MINISTRY. Since I last met you the R*. Hon. Sir Joseph George Ward, Bart., K.C. M.G., at my request, undertook to form a Ministry on December 10th last. He was appointed Prime Minister and the Ministry is now in o ffic eI regret exceedingly that during the recess the Hon. Sir Charles Perdu' Skerrett, K.C.M.G., K.C., the Chief Justice, passed! away. During a ami illustrious career he rendered eminent public service to NewZealand, and his untimely death was a national loss. The Hon, Michael Myers,. K.C, has been appointed to fill the vacancy.

It is also with deep regret that 1 lie.fejr to the calamitous (earthquake which the Dominion recently experienced, and I join with you m extending sincere sympathy to the relatives of those who lost tneir lives ini the. disaster.. My Government have intimated that generous practical assistance will be provided for those who have un\fo;rbunatelyj suffered loss and measures" for relief have been undertaken.

My Ministers are firmly attached to the principles of the I/eagu© of Nations, and are deteirminfed to take, any steps possible to forward the great work of the League, and in particular that of peace aijdl disarmament..

NAVAL "DEFENCE. No change of policy is. contemplated in respect of naval defence. As a necessary auxialiary to the naval defence of New Zealand, as an aid to commerce and to communication my Government arei impressed with the importance of aviation and is their intention? to take every possible step to promote interest in this subject, throughout the Dominion.

ANXIETY OVER £Affit>A The position m tn& mandated territory df Western Samoa continues to cause some anxiety and there still exists in the territory a movement among a considerable setetion of the Samoan people of dissatisfaction with <thei administration. My Government have decided to continue a policy of patience, and! have made it clear that while it is their intention to govenK the territory with justice and equity to. all and wi'thsym, pathetic consideration to the inter, ests of tlio Samoans they must administer the law and will continue to do so with firmness, if the position re-

quijres it. It has been intimated that while the Government cannot rfcgptiatej with any movement that is openly flouting the law the disaffected section'of tJie. native population may bo assured of a full discussion and a generous, consideration of any representation, so soon as their refusal to comply with the law is abandoned.,

INDUSTRIAL PEACE. My auvTsefs recognise- that tf.ia material prosperity of ma Dominion eaninot be fully achieved without industrial peace and thex hope to maintain the existing good relations in all branches of industry.. In common! with other countries of the world the. Dominion is still suffering from the. evils of unemployment, although it is ai matter for congratulation that this trouble in New Zealand is comparatively less in scope than else,wherei.j Kepiediail measures',, absorbing a. largo section of those unable to find work,, have been taken by my Government, and there aire now employed on the public works of the country a very large number of men in excess of those who would be engaged in such woirk in normal times.

HOUSING FACILITIES Considerable extra expenditure has also been necessary in providing the requisite housing facilities. The action taken by the Government, in conjunction with the municipal author, ities, has provided much-needed relief and proposals dealing with the general question of unemployment will be brought before you.

Close attention is being devoted to In the. Dominion, and with the utilpushing on to completion the various hydro-electric works now in progress isation of power from "Waixaremoana

(and Arapun.i stations the services* available to the people- in this respect will be greatly enlarged

FURTHER LOAN RAISED.

In order to provide additional capital for carrying on the programme of public works, notably railway construction and the improvement and development of hyclro-electric power, a further "loan of £7,000,000 was raised in London in January last. The issue price was £95 per cent., bearing interest at per cent, and the successful flotation on these terms is further evidence of the confidence of investors in this Dominion.

In conjunction with this issue for new money, a further offer was made to holders of New Zealand 4 per cent. IO2D consolidated stock to convert up to C 112,000,000 of this' stock into U per oeut 1948-58 stock, similar to Unit issued in the case of the new cash loan.

The. holderstof the 4 pet- cent, stock Were, offered £lO4 5s of the new stock for £IOO of the old stock. The result was very satisfactory, practically the whole of the' amount offered being taken up.

STATE ADVANCES. Arrangements have been made by my Ministers to provide additional capital for State Advances, and every etlort is being made to meet the legitimate demands of settlers and workers for loans tor the purchase and development of farms ancTtne erection of dwellings. During the six months ending June 10th last no less than £3,620,240 has been authorised by the State Advaaices Board in loans: to settlers and workers.

The State superannuation funds, namely the Public Service, the teachers and the railways funds, established many years ago, have undergone during recent years changes which have had a somewhat adverse effect on their acturial stability. The position disclosed clearly indicates that immediate steps will require to be taken to restore their financial status, and proposals in this regard will be duly submitted for your consideration. It is the Government's intention to see that preference to British manufactures is maintained, and the slogan of "Buy British G'Oods" adhered to wherever possible. It is ,proposed to appoint a trade representative to Canada in the near future. This is in accordance with the wish of manufacturers and* producers in Canada, and will form a very necessary link between the two Dominions.

The question of providing for a more regular steamship service between South Island ports and Australia has been receiving the earnest consideration of my Government, and it has been decided- to invite tenders for a suitable service.