✨ Parliamentary Opening Speech
No. 39 869
THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
EXTRAORDINARY
Published by Authority
WELLINGTON: WEDNESDAY, 21 JUNE 1961
THE First Session of the Thirty-third Parliament of New Zealand was this day opened by the Governor-General, when His Excellency was pleased to make the following statement of the causes of the calling of this session of Parliament together:
HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Since I last addressed you, the people of New Zealand have again elected their representatives to this House. My Government, during its six months of office, has been called upon to deal with problems of great consequence.
The international scene has been marked by continued crises in Laos and the Congo. Insistent divisions in the United Nations have placed in jeopardy the very future of the Organisation. My Government’s representatives at the General Assembly have opposed attempts to divide and disable the office of the Secretary-General. They have emphasised, too, that United Nations efforts to preserve international peace and security are endangered if member countries refuse to accept their proportionate share of the financial costs involved.
My Prime Minister attended the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ meeting held in London in March. This was notable for the admission to Commonwealth membership of Cyprus and Sierra Leone, and for the withdrawal of South Africa’s application to remain in the Commonwealth following the establishment of a Republic.
My Government deeply regrets the withdrawal of South Africa from the Commonwealth; equally it regrets and deplores the policies and practices of that country which made continued membership impracticable. A policy of apartheid is incompatible, however, with the ideal of a multi-racial partnership to which the Commonwealth is dedicated.
You will be asked to consider legislation to deal with the position of the Republic of Cyprus as a member of the Commonwealth.
My Prime Minister also attended the meeting of the SEATO Council of Foreign Ministers in Bangkok. The Council devoted particular attention to the dangerous situations in Laos and South Vietnam. While emphasising New Zealand’s readiness to observe its treaty obligations, my Prime Minister stressed the need for efforts to settle the problems
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VUW Te Waharoa —
NZ Gazette 1961, No 39
NZLII —
NZ Gazette 1961, No 39
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🏛️ Governor-General's Opening Speech to Parliament
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration21 June 1961
Parliament, Governor-General, Government statement, International relations, United Nations, Commonwealth, SEATO
- Governor-General