1540
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 46

This offer has been graciously accepted by His Majesty’s Home Government, and to make the gift effective you will be asked to ratify it.

Since this offer was made His Majesty’s self-governing oversea dominions have all evinced their loyal desire to see the Imperial navy so strengthened as to secure that supremacy of the seas upon which the Empire has risen to its present greatness, and upon which that greatness now depends.

In these circumstances, His Majesty’s Home Government has called to a Naval Conference, to be held in London in the last week in July next, responsible representatives of all the self-governing dominions, with a view to concerted and united action being taken throughout the Empire for naval supremacy and naval defence.

The importance of this Conference, not only to the United Kingdom itself, but to all His Majesty’s dominions, has been recognised by the readiness with which each self-governing State has agreed to send representatives.

The Prime Minister of New Zealand will attend this Conference, as my Advisers deem it expedient, not only in view of the importance of the Conference to this Dominion and to the Nation, but also in view of the new part this country has assumed in Imperial defence by its offer of a Dreadnought, that New Zealand should be represented at the Conference by its Prime Minister.

To enable the Prime Minister to be present in London for the opening of the Conference, he must leave New Zealand in a short time, and cannot return before the end of September next.

This being the first session of a new Parliament, my Advisers deem it necessary that while the session lasts the Prime Minister should be in his place here to carry on his important duties, and to introduce, explain, and if necessary defend, the policy of the Government; and therefore to enable him to attend the Conference an early prorogation of Parliament is essential.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,—

In accordance with the usual custom, Parliament would in the ordinary course of events have been summoned for the last week of this month, and, as you are aware, supplies have been voted to the thirtieth day of June instant. In view of the circumstances and the course I have already referred to, proposals for an extension of the appropriations to a suitable date will be submitted for your consideration. A statement showing approximately the financial position of the Dominion will be placed before you, and legislative authority asked to raise a sum of money required to carry on certain public works.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,—

It is not considered necessary by my Advisers that any measures should be brought before you except the financial proposals already indicated by me as necessary to give effect to what my Advisers deem the wish of the people of New Zealand, that this Dominion should be represented at the impending Conference by its Prime Minister.

I trust that his attendance with that of the Ministers of the Crown from the other self-governing oversea dominions will result in a great and permanent scheme of Imperial naval defence—a scheme which, by involving a closer partnership between us and the Mother-country, will draw us to her nearer still, and will express our kinship in the tangible and visible evidences of the part we take in the defence of the Empire, and will, above all, with the blessing of God, make for the permanent peace of the world.

By Authority: JOHN MACKAY, Government Printer, Wellington.