✨ Governor's Speech to Parliament
Num. 46. 1539
THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
EXTRAORDINARY.
Published by Authority.
WELLINGTON, THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1909.
THE First Session of the Seventeenth Parliament of New Zealand was this
day opened by the Governor, when His Excellency was pleased to make
the following
S P E E C H
HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,—
It is with much pleasure I meet you again in Parliament assembled to
state to you the causes for which you have been summoned.
I am entitled to assume that you have followed with close and deep
interest the statements of His Majesty’s Ministers in England as to the
present strength and fighting efficiency of the British navy, and more
particularly as to the extensive changes in, and to, that navy, found to be
necessary to enable the Empire to maintain its greatness, if not its
existence, in case of war.
The gravity of the outlook upon the rapid growth of foreign naval
armaments has impressed itself upon the statesmen of the United King-
dom, and His Majesty’s Ministers there have outlined the naval programme
which they deem essential to enable Great Britain to retain her supremacy
on the seas.
You have doubtless seriously reflected upon the heavy burden which
the maintenance of the British navy already imposes upon the United
Kingdom, and of the great additions which will be made to this burden by
the new naval programme.
It is quite unnecessary to remind you how vitally we in this Dominion
are interested in the strength and efficiency of that navy, or of our obliga-
tions to Great Britain for the protection now and always afforded to our
lives and liberties, and our property, trade, and commerce, by her fleets.
My Advisers, recognising not only the gravity of the situation in which
the rapid growth of foreign naval armaments has placed our Mother-
country, but also the great weight of the burden upon her people which
the maintenance and strengthening of her navy involves, decided that,
subject to ratification by Parliament, this Dominion should give a prompt
and substantial proof both of its loyalty and its duty to the Empire by the
offer of a first-class battleship of the Dreadnought type.
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NZ Gazette 1909, No 46
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🏛️ Governor's Speech Opening Parliament
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration10 June 1909
Parliament, Governor, Speech, Navy, Defence, Empire, Loyalty