New Zealand Gazette – 1911 – No. 60

Page 2299

✨ Governor's Speech to Parliament

Num. 60. 2299

THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
EXTRAORDINARY.

Published by Authority.

WELLINGTON, THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1911.

THE Fourth 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 affords me much pleasure to again meet you in Parliament assembled.
During the recess I have visited most of the larger centres of the Dominion
and several of the outlying districts, and have made myself acquainted with
the people. My preconceptions regarding their loyalty to the Throne and their
devotion to our most gracious Sovereign have been amply confirmed. This
greatly enhanced the pleasure of my visits, and was most gratifying to me as
the representative of His Majesty and also personally.

The Coronation of His Most Gracious Majesty King George V took place
on the 22nd June with befitting ceremony, and the loyalty and enthusiasm
displayed, not only in Great Britain and Ireland, but also throughout His
Majesty’s vast dominions, show that his subjects far and wide regard him as no
unworthy successor to his noble father, and that it is with infinite trust they
leave in his hands the onerous and arduous task of guiding the destinies of
Empire through all the difficulties and complications of domestic and inter-
national affairs. Congratulations were sent to His Majesty from the Government
and the people of New Zealand, and addresses were sent from the women of the
Dominion and the Maori population. These were most graciously received and
acknowledged. To the people of New Zealand, in common with those of the
other oversea Dominions, the ceremony was of unprecedented interest in view
of the fact that His Majesty, as Duke of Cornwall and York, was the first of his
illustrious line to visit every portion of the Empire.

An Imperial Conference of the Prime Ministers of the oversea Dominions
and the representatives of the British Cabinet was summoned to meet in
London. This Conference was attended by my Prime Minister and the
Attorney-General. The results of that Conference have been most satisfactory,
and the details of its proceedings will be placed before you.

The claim made by the Government of the United States of America
against the Imperial Government, known as the Webster Claim, has received
careful attention by the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General. Your
representatives had several conferences with the British Embassy in America,
and also with the Home Government in London, which have resulted in an
arrangement between the Home Government and the Government of this
country which they consider completely satisfactory to the interests of New
Zealand.

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