576

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

[No. 19

On this great occasion New Zealand will be officially represented by
my Prime Minister, the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Maori
Affairs and Lands, the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition, and
Members of both Parties in Parliament. They will be able to express
to Her Majesty in person the loyal devotion and affection of her
subjects in New Zealand and its island territories.

A Military Contingent, drawn from all branches of our armed
forces, including a detachment from Korea and ex-servicemen from
both world wars, is being sent to take part in the Coronation
ceremonies. At the Coronation Naval Review at Spithead the Royal
New Zealand Navy will be represented by H.M.N.Z.S. "Black Prince".

Throughout New Zealand Coronation Day will be marked by local
celebrations and festivities appropriate to so great an occasion.

At the London Conference of Prime Ministers last December
further discussions took place concerning changes in the Royal Style
and Titles made necessary by constitutional developments in the
Commonwealth. Each member Government will in future use its
own form of title, and a Bill approving the form to be used in respect
of New Zealand will be introduced during the present session.

A further joyful event eagerly awaited by the New Zealand people
is the visit of Her Majesty the Queen, and His Royal Highness the
Duke of Edinburgh. It would be a memorable event under any
circumstances, but it will be especially so on this occasion as it will
be the first time in the history of New Zealand that the reigning
Sovereign has visited these shores. The Royal visitors are assured of
a warm and loyal welcome when they arrive here shortly before
Christmas.

The itinerary for Her Majesty's visit is a comprehensive one and,
in order to reduce the physical strain involved, my Government, in
co-operation with the representatives of the various local authorities,
is reducing to a minimum the number and duration of official indoor
engagements and receptions. This will permit the Queen to spend
as much as possible of the time available out of doors amongst the
people, especially the children.

A special and short session of Parliament to be held in January
next will be opened by Her Majesty in person in this very Council
Chamber, when she will read the Speech from the Throne. This
historic and unique ceremony will be broadcast not only to New
Zealand, but to the rest of the world.

Following the Coronation a special Conference of Commonwealth
Prime Ministers will be held in London at which my Prime Minister
will attend. These meetings of Her Majesty's principal Ministers
provide an important and welcome opportunity for exchanging
views, and for formulating and co-ordinating plans designed to promote
the advancement of the Commonwealth, and to strengthen its influence
in world affairs.

In the field of international affairs the Government continues to
pursue a policy of firm support for the United Nations. At the
Seventh Regular Session of the General Assembly held in New
York towards the end of last year the New Zealand Delegation,
led by the Minister of External Affairs, participated fully in the
consideration of the many vital issues with which the Assembly is
confronted. This applies particularly to the negotiations in connection
with the attempt to remove the one outstanding issue, namely, the
repatriation of prisoners of war, which bars the way to the conclusion
of an armistice in Korea.

Latest developments encourage the hope that wiser counsels may
yet prevail to bring an end to hostilities and pave the way for the
unification and rehabilitation of Korea.

My Government bases its foreign policy upon the strength of
the British Commonwealth, the principles of the United Nations
Charter, and the maintenance of a firm alliance with the United