THE CYPRUS GAZETTE, 19th JANUARY, 1923.

The Cjrprus Gazette(EXTRAORDINARY.)(Published by Authority.)No. 1560.] THURSDAY, 18TH JANUARY, 1923.No. 21.SPEECHOPHis ExceUency the High CommissionerDELIVERED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILAT THE OPENING OF THE SESSION,ON TUESDAY, I 6TH JANUARY, 1923.HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVECOUNCIL,In opening the second session of the present CouncilI desire, in the first place, to welcome to their seatsthe new members who have been returned by thevarious constituencies at the recent by-elections andwho take their place in this Assembly for the firsttime. In welcoming them I express the convictionwhich I feel that they will worthily maintain the besttraditions of the Council, and that, whatever differencesof opinion may separate individual members on mattersof detail, they will be united in the common objectof promoting, so far as is possible, the welfare of theIsland.The effects of the widespread depression in foreigntrade due to war and postwar conditions still continueto be felt in Cyprus, and latterly there has been a considerableaccumulation locally of stocks of variouscommodities which have been withheld from exportowing to the difficulties which have been experiencedby exporters in finding foreign markets at remunerativeprices. At the same time, aud having regard toall the circumstances, the foreign trade of the Islandduring the past year has not been unsatisfactory. Thevalue of the trade showed little variation in comparisonwith the previous year and it is satisfactory to recordthat, while there was a decrease of approximately£38,000 in the value of our import trade, the exportsincreased by about £22,000.The cereal harvest for the year was, in the case ofbarley, a normal one being within one-half per cent, ofthe average for the preceding ten years ; in the case ofwheat the harvest was in excess of that for 1921, andabout 16| per cent, above the average for the precedingten years.The fall in the price of cereals to which I alludedlast year hag continued to affect adversely the revenuewhich the Goveffitiiefit derives ffom its grain titheswhich form one of the most important sources of ourincome. The windfalls eonsequent oti the high pri(M6obtained from Uiis source during the war and the17years immediately following have now ceased, as havealso the sales of timber and fuel exported to Egypt formilitary requirements during the same period fromwhich a very considerable revenue was derived. Thisdecrease in income will involve the exercise of stringenteconomy in the present year, in addition to anyother measures necessai^Y-ta meet recurrent exditnre. fffflPIAKH BIHAIlDuring the course of the past year the Governmenthas received a number of petitions from many sourcespraying for a revision of the Elementary EducationLaw in relation to Greek-Christian Schools, and itwould appear that a desire exists in many quarters fora consideration of this matter. The question is onethat is not wholly free from difficulties and, asHonourable Gentlemen will be aware, the effortswhich were made during the session of 1920 to reacha satisfactory solution of the question proved abortive.Before proceeding further in the matter it wouldseem desirable that members should have an opportunityof discussing the subject fully and informallywith representatives of the Government, and an opportunityof doing so will be afforded to them in duecourse.The Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for thecurrent year and the usual Appropriation Bill will belaid before you shortly.I trust that your deliberations in this Session of theLegislative Council may, under the guidance of DivineProvidence, conduce to the best interests of the people,and I now, in the name of His Majesty King Georgethe Fifth, declare the Council to be open.(M.P. 334/23.)No. 22.ADDRESSOF THELEGISLATIVECOUNCILIN REPLY TO THE SPEECH OF HiS EXCELLENCYTHE HIGH COMMISSIONER DELIVERED TO THELEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT THE OPENING OFTHE SESSION ON THE 16TH JANUARY, 1923.MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,1. We, the Members of the Legislative Counoil^beg leave to offer our thanks to Your Exe«ll6iMyfor the Speech which Tour £bto6lIe&e^ hasaddressed to the Legislative Council.ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ