WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1901. THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 156, 3 July 1901, Page 4

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1901. THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

The speech delivered by His Execl-

leney Hie Governor ai the opening of Parliament yesterday was unusually long. The greater parl of it was taken up with a review of past, events —fitting allusions 1o the death of

Queen Victoria and the recent visit, of the Duke of York, and a statement with regard to the inclusion of the Cook Islands within the boundaries

of New Zealand. It is satisfactory to find that the introduction of penny postage has been so successful lhat it is believed that in two years the postal receipts will equal those before the reduction. No one, not even Mr. Ward, anticipated so favourable a result. The commencement of the Paciiit: cable, under a partnership including the hup; rial Government, Canada, and three of the Australian

States, is also a matter for congratulation. The Government regard the local flotation of half-a-mililon loan as a success: they also state that there is an unabated demand for improved land for settlement, while the system of advances to settlers is working satisfactorily, and it is proposed to extend its operation to some other forms of security. . Among the measures announced is

a superannuation scheme for public servants. This is a subject on which there will be considerable divergence of opinion. Many years ago the colony deliberately abolished the pensions system, on the just ground that a person who has enjoyed the advantages of permanent Government employment for a long series of years is

in as good a position to make provision for old age as a citizen is who has bad to battle his own way. Of

course a great deal depends upon the nature of the measure proposed by the Government, and its provisions will have to be very closely scrutinised.

Among the other important measures announced arc a Referendum Hill, Motttfajyfcß o! Lund IUU, further amendments to the labour legislation, including provisions regulating the hours of clerks in banks.and mercantile houses, a Bill for the. improvement "of fire brigades, and protection of life in hotels, a County Councils Bill, Chinese Immigration Act, a Bill to legalise recent expenditure by corporate bodies on the York celebrations, a measure extending the powers of the Inspector of Hospitals, and providing for the registration of hospital nurses, and an amendment to the mining laws, facilitating the enforcement of calls against directors, and charging a royalty in the case of goldmines as a contribution to the sick and benevolent funds of miners. These Bills provide the materials for a busy session, and no doubt they are only the advance guard of a legislative brigade which will give Parliament a great deal more work than it can get through this session, or is ever expected to do.