PARLIAMENT OPENED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 152, 29 June 1934, Page 6

PARLIAMENT OPENED

PAGEANTRY AT WELLINGTON REPRESENTATIVES MEET FOR FOURTH SESSION KEEN PUBLIC INTEREST SHOWN IN PROCEEDINGS (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 28. The fourth session of the twenty-fourth Parliament was opened by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, this afternoon in fine weather. Accompanied by Lady Bledisloe and members of his staff, His Excellency left Government House at 2.15 p.m., his departure being signalled by the firing of a salute of nineteen guns from the Point Jerningham battery. On arrival, His Excellency inspected the guard of honour, which was provided by the New Zealand Permanent Force, and which was drawn up in front of the main entrance to the building. In the meantime, Lady Bledisloe, accompanied by the official secretary, was received by the Clerk of Parliament and escorted to the Legislative Council Chamber, where she received a handsome bouquet from the Speaker of the Council. Mrs. Forbes and the wives of the other Ministers also occupied seats in the Chamber, and an interested visitor was Miss Jean Batten. After inspecting the guard, Lord Bledisloe entered the buildings preceded by Major-General Sinclair-Burgess, Captain Sinclair Thomson, Lieutenant Elworthy, Captain Tweedie (aide de camp), Colonel Symon, Paymaster-Commander Durman, Colonel Cunningham, Lieutenant-Colonel Lyon, LieutenantColonel Standish, and Squadron-Leader Wilkes. Lord Bledisloe proceeded to the Legislative Council Chamber, where he read the Speech from the Throne, after members of the House of Representatives had been summoned by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Mr. A. T. Bothamley. A large number of people assembled in the grounds of Parliament Buildings to witness the arrival, and the galleries of the Council Chamber’ were crowded.

SPEECH FROM THRONE THE GOVERNMENT S POLICY The Governor-General’s speech from the Throne was as follows; HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND MEMBER’S OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES As this will be the last occasion on which I shall have the privilege of addressing you in Parliament assembled, 1 desire to express to you and through you to persons of all classes and both races in this Dominion my deep appreciation of the goodwill which has been consistently extended to me as the King's representative, and also to Lady Bledisloe, during our sojourn amongst you in a period of almost unprecedented economic adversity and my earnest hopes for the future wellbeing of the people of this Dominion. We shtbll quit its shore with much reluctance and with many happy memories. J need hardly add that we shall not fail after leaving a country in which we have experienced so much kindness, to grasp any opportunities which may hereafter present themselves to advance its welfare. His Royal Highness the iDuke of Gloucester will, with His Majesty’s permission, be visiting New Zealand as the guest of my Government for a period of some live weeks from December 15 next. 1 am confident that the people of the Dominion will, in pursuance of their steadfast loyalty to the Crown and their affection for His Majesty, accord*to him a very hearty welcome. My Ministers have followed the proceedings of the Disarmament Conference at Geneva with the closest inter- I est and sympathy, and have consistently maintained their warm support of the cause of general disarmament and of the system of friendly collaboration in international affairs througn the League of Nations. This policy Uaey intend to continue. Waitangi Celebrations. The native race made the lust anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi the occasion for celebrating the dedication of the Waitangi estate to the people of New Zealand, and during the ceremony there were laid adjacent to the old British Residency the foundations of a carved Maori meeting house which they desired to associate with the site now vested in the Waitangi National Trust Board. The assembly provided striking evidence that the Treaty of Waitangi has served to unify the various tribes composing the native race and to cement and perpetuate their loyalty to the British Crown, and the large combined gathering of pakehas and Maoris was a pleasing demonstration of th?, friendship and comradeship so happily existing between the two peoples. During your Prliamentary recess the trade agreement between His Majesty’s Governments in Canada and New Zealand, which was executed in 1932, has been extended until May 24, 1935. The report of the Commission which was appointed on May 9, 1933, to inquire into the Customs tariff of the Dominion has now been received and will be laid before you at an early date. Legislative amendments of the tariff, embodving, inter alia, the obligations undertaken by this Dominion at the Ottawa Conference, will be prepare 1 for your consideration during the session. The Commission appointed to inquire into certain matters affecting the ad- , ministration of native affairs has not vet completed its investigation. Rs report will be submitted to you in dae course. MR SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESEV T ATI VES— During the past year there has been a gratifying change for- the better in the* economic position and the future outlook. The steady progress towards trade recovery now being effected tn the United Kingdom, which is the principal market for our exports, augurs well for this Dominion. New Zealand has already received substantial benefits from the marked recovery in the price of wool and from the less spectacular but welcome improvement in that of meat and its by-products. As a result an appreciable section of our farming community are now receiving a more adequate financial return from thear commercial enterprise. Not only

is trade generally benefited from the expenditure of the additional income, but as the result of the psychological reaction to rising prices confidence is engendered in business and the whole community is enheartened and initiative stimulated The most serious problem awaiting solution is that of the dairy industry, ■ which plays a part of ever-increasing , importance in the economic life of this ; Dominion. The export prices of butter and cheese have remained at a low level and in addition the welfare of the industry is threatened by an over supply of these commodities to the markets of Great Britain. This is a problem to which my Ministers have devoted much anxious thought, and at present every aspect of it is being fully investigated by a Commission. Past experience has demonstrated that an abundant supply of cheap credit is a powerful factor in overcoming economic depression, and since the development of the present world-wide crisis my Ministers have steadily pursued a policy calculated to lower interest rates within the Dominion. Following upon the successful conversion of the internal public debt, rapid progress is now being made with the conversion of the securities of local bodies. The success of this policy is evident from the fact that the market rates of interest have already fallen to a vel appreciably lower than those fixed as a basis for the conversion operations. As part of the policy of economic readjustment, it has been found necessary to effect by statute a general re duction in the rates of interest on mortgages. This was a temporary measure, but the position has now been generally stabilised by the fall of the market rates of interest for this class of investment to the statutory minimum rate, and in some cases below it. Reserve Bank. The establishment of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is now in progress, and it is anticipated that the deliberate management of the monetary system by a national institution specially constituted for that purpose, cannot fail to be of material benefit to the people of the DominionAs a result of the economic crisis, there has been a widespread belief among certain sections of the community, that serious defects exist in our monetary system. Accordingly my Ministers, in their desire to explore every avenue which might aid recovery or prevent a recurrence of serious economic difficulties, have set up a committee to consider suggested improvements in the existing system. The report of this committee will be placed before you at an early date. The improvement disclosed by the public accounts for the past financial year, as compared with the Budget forecast, is a satisfactory feature, and an indication of a marked improvement in the financial position of the Dominion- In the conditions existing when the Budget was present, a deficit exceeding £2,000,000 was contemplated, and the reduction to approximately onethird of this estimated deficit by reason of the unexpected buoyancy in revenue, and of economy in public expenditure, is a source of gratification tn my Ministers, and their earnest attention is being directed towards maintaining this improvement. Land Settlement. HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF ’ THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES— The Government have given close attention to the question of land settlement, and steady progress has been made, not only in the extension of general settlement under the Land Act, but also in the placing of unemployed men on the land under rhe provisions of the Small Farms (Relief of Unemployment) Act. As the process absorbs a large amount of surplus labour, and at the same time tends to meet the demand for improved holdings at a minimum cost, my Ministers are continuing the policy of developing and equipping with roads areas of unimproved Crown land and partly improved estates acquired for that purpose, with the assistance of funds made available by the Unemployment Board. Since I last addressed you many settlers have been successfully established on such areas, and the blocks now in course of development will provide a large number of holdings suitable for

diversified types of productive enterprise. Unemployment Although unemployment still continues to be a difficult social and economic problem, my Ministers are gratified to state that tne number of persons receiving assistance from the unemployment fund is appreciably lower than it was during in o corresponding period of last year. There are indications of a gradual but definite return to more normal conditions, and it is confidently anticipated that the re-absorption of registered unemployed in their usual occupations will continue to increase. My advisers, however, are firmly impressed with the necessity of making every effort to accelerate this movement, and are accordingly using all means within their power to stimulate trade and industry in the Dominion and to encourage the opening up of further avenues of permanent employment. The Mortgagors and Tenants Relief Act has afforded a welcome respite from financial stress to the many mortg*y;ors who found themselves faced with insuperable difficulties through recent adverse economic conditions. The several commissions constituted in pursuance of this legislation have rendered valuable service in investigating and recommending bases of arrangement between mortgagor ana mortgagee.

The provision made in your last session to include stock mortgages in adjustment schemes framed under the Act has conducted to its more equitable administration to prevent possible hardships in the case of current mortgages. It is deemed advisable to extend the effective period of this legislation for another two years and proposals to this end will be placed before you. Dominion Defences With a view to improving tlic defences of the Dominion, my Ministers, have taken measures to develop the Air Force, to establish anti-aircraft batteries, and to strengthen the coastal defences of the Dominion. Orders have been placed for the first instalment, consisting of two flights cf general purpose land ’planes and for the first of a number of advanced trainer aircraft, with the necessary spare parts and equipment. The initial orders for anti-aircraft and coast defence armaments will, it is hoped, be executed by the end of the current financial year. The establishment of a chain of landing grounds for aircraft throughout the country has also been put in nand. With the object of stimulating interest in the Territorial Force, my Ministers have decided to grant pay for prescribed courses of training carried out locally, in addition to training in camps. The existing charts of the New Zealand coast have been found to be insufficiently complete to meet the full requirements of ocean transport, and ships are frequently delayed owing to difficulty in determining their exact position under conditions of low visibility. Navigation instruments are now obtainable, by the aid of which these delays could largely be obviated if the coastline and neighbouring sea bed were fully and accurately charted. My Ministers have been in communication with His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, and have been in formed that a suitable surveying ship will be available to undertake this work in 1936, when it is contemplated that the question of providing the necessary funds will be brought before Parliament. Bills to be Submitted Bills will be submitted for your consideration amending the law relating to British nationality and status of aliens, cinematograph films, commercial trusts, distress an® replevin, the slaughtering and inspection of live stock, river boards, mining and poisons. I earnestly pray that Divine Providence may continue to direct your deliberations to the advancement of the welfare of this Dominion. MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS MINISTERIAL REPLIES ( Per Press Association ). WELLINGTON, June 28. The House met at 2.30 p.m. and adjourned to the Legislative Council to hear the Speech from the Throne. Leave was sought to introduce the following Bills: Meat Export Amendment (Mr W. J. Polson); Town Board Amendment (Mr W. E. Barnard); National Credits and Currency (Mr H. G. R. Mason). On resuming, Mr W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier) asked the Minister of Finance whether, in the case of a legacy of less than £2OO to be remitted from Britain to a person residing in New Zealand, the latter will receive the benefit of the exchange rate of 125 per cent. Hon. J. G. Coates said, in replying in the affirmative, that it had been arranged that all legacies up to £lOOO could be transferred to New Zealand in the ordinary course at current rates of exchange. Mr W. A. Veiteh (Govt., Wanganui) asked the Minister of Customs if he would circulate the report of the Tariff Commission as soon as possible, and not later than the day of the introduction of the tariff amendments. Mr Coates replied that the report of the Commission would be supplied, but he regretted that it could not be done before the introduction of the tariff resolutions. Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central) asked Hon. G. W. Forbes whether, in view of the decision of the Ottawa Conference that prices must be raised, and the subsequent endorsement of the principle by Mr Forbes, he would this session not only restore the reductions in old age, widows’, miners’ and other pensions, but make a further increase. Mr Forbes replied that it was not the'intention to increase pensions until the finances of the country permitted it being done. Mr H. G. Dickie (Govt., Patea) gave notice of intention to move the Addrcss-in-Rcply, and the House adjourned at 3.25 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. torn o r r o w.