Parliament.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1040, 29 June 1894, Page 3

Parliament.

♦— FRIDAY, JUNE 25. His Excellency the Governor delivered the following speech — FfONORAALE GENTLEMEN OF THP LEGISLATIVE Council and Gentlemen op the House op Representatives, — It gives nit* pleasure to meet you in Parliament assembled. During the present year I have been enabled to visit Rarotonga and other parts of the Hervpy group indirectly connected with this colony. I was not only charmed with the, romantic scenery of that beautiful cluster of islands, but. I was gratified by the uniformly loyal and friendly greeting accorded me by the natives. They appear to be both fairly happy and contented, and thoroughly satisfied with the protection given them by the Queen's rule. My observations led me to include that a fair openiug exists there for developing a useful trade with New Zealand. The proh'acted confusion still disturbing Samoa has induced my Advisers to urge upon the Imperial Government that England should utilise this colony to control and manage the Navigator Islands. It is obvious that the triple control contetn plated by treaty has been as unsatisfactory to the Great Powers concerned as it has been injurious to Samoa. It is so e'early the destiny of New Zealand to play a leading part in Polynesia that tny Advisers confidently expect your concurrence in the sngsjestions made by them. Papers relating to the Postal Conference held here will be laid before you. . The Imperial importance of the conference now assembling at Ottawa has been recognised by my Ministers, who | have therefore despatched thither a gentleman of approved standing and commercial experience to represent New Zealand. Though I cannot congratulate you either upon an abundant harvest or upon high prices to be obtained for the colony's staple products, I nevertheless think that the position of New Zealand affords matter for real satisfaction. General causes in the state of the Home market and the caution installed into institutions, presumably by the late panic, have undoubtedly thrown temporary difficulties in the path of rapid progress. Nevertheless, the energy and the courage of our colonists and the resources of the country have never been inor« clearly displayed. Thanks to those oncl to the prudence and sucr cess of the financial policy sanctioned by the late Parliament the volume of our products continues to increase, while our colony's credit stands preeminent in liondon. Public and pri vate indebtedness diminishes relatively to our numbers, and tin; unemployed tire proportionately fewer than in almost any other civilised country. Figures collected at the ports of entry and depature for the last five months show that the influx from Australia of men in search of employment has for the present virtually ceased. Once more I am enabled to state that the provision made last year for carrying on the public service has proved much more than sufficient. The accounts will show you both a gross and a net surplus of revenue over expenditure of a most solid and gratifying kind. Certain proposals will be laid before you, and their object will he to enable the Government to carry on the absolutely needful work of settlement without either impairing the colony's credit or laying intolerable burdens upon the taxpayers. It appears to my Advisers that the time has arrived for the State to bo no longer satisfied with carrying on as well as its finances permit a certain share of the work of- colonisation. Some efforts should now be made by which the Government, without incurring dangerous obligations, may aid private enterprise to avail itself on reasonable terms of the vast supplies of English capatial, the holders of which are only awaiting openings for secure investment. The scandalous mismanagement which led to tlft suspension of an important company bearing the name of this colony has impressed upon my Advisers the necessity for safeguarding shareholders and the public against the loose methods of company management. A measure will be introduced for this propose. You will bb asked to take up an important work begun but left unfinished by the late Parliament. I refer to the business of making the Native land law simpler, and the methods of acquiring Native land easier and speedier. In the opinion of my Ministers the time has come when private dealings in Native lands should entirely cease, and when every title granted for such land should be given directly from the Government under the Land Transfer Act. I notice with pleasure that the action of the validation law of iast year promises to be as satisfactory to the settlers on the East Coast as was the effect of the West Coast Settlement Act to those on the opposite side of this island. Still, my Advisers think that a fair share of your time this session cannot be better devoted than to the Native lands question. Exhaustive inquiries among the Maori race seem to show that the

tribes generally are ready and willing to co-opf,rate in this matter. • Hand in hand with this steady acquisition of Native land must go the repurchase of private lands for closer settlement. Three years ago my predecessor drew the attention of the late Parliament to this. Since then the results of acquiring the valuable. Cheviot estate and certain other similar areas have, been so entirely successful as to lead my Advisers to ask you for further powers to enable them lo carry on the work with all needful vigour. „ To this end the Land for Settlement Bill rejected last year will again be brought forward, with certain extensions and improvements. You will be pleased 1 to learn that the process of settling the, waste lands of the Crown has gone on during the last year with unabated speed and with genuinely good results. You will be asked also to pass into law measures for enabling the Agricultural department to effectually help and regulate the rapidly growing dairy industry by a system of grading and cool storage. Other bills intended to be of practical use to farmers and stockowners will be laid before you. The yield from o«r goldfields cannot be said to have increased during the past year, yet by improvements in appliances, as well as the methods of treatment in both alluvial and quartz mining, considerable areas have been worked successfully which could not in former years have yeilcled a profit. A bill will be laid before you which it is hoped will aid in- attaching to the soil the miners now spread over our goldbearing country. If by improving their present unsatisfactory occupation tenures they can be given an interest and j stake in land it is thought that the change will tend the good at once of themselves, the mining districts, and the colony. You will 1-e afforded full opportunity to consider the liquor question. A bill will be brought in to consolidate and amend the licensing law and to simplify the procedure at the local option poll.' My advisers desire to make it plain that they have no wish that this important matter should be approached by members in any other spirit than that of adherence to public pledges and individual convictions. During the recess the term of office of t\v:. late Railway Commissioners expired. In accordance with what was believed to be the intention of the Legislature which passed ' The Government Railways Act 1887, and with the wish of the country as expressed at the late elections, a change was made in the personnel of the commission. At the same time care was taken to leave power to arrange for the future management of the national railways in such a way as you may deem proper. Gentlemen op the House op Representatives, — I think it fitting to take notice of a feature of peculiar interest belonging to this Parliament. You are the first body of New Zealand legislators elected under the law" granting suffrage to women. 1 have to congratulate the colony upon the quiet and peaceful course of the elections held under these novel conditions. I trust that, by your aptitude for business and zeal for the country's welfare, you will show yourselves in no way inferior to the members of former Parliaments, and thus justify the hopes of the framer and passers of the Electoral Act. In order to aid you in the conduct of your Houses of business, now Standing Orders combining highly important changes will be submitted to you. You will be asked to give them precedence over all other matter. While loth to seem to interfere in any way with old-established customs and privi- ; leges, my Advisers have been driven to think that the time has arrived for j a bold reform of procedure. Experience has forced them to conclude that under the honored name of ' Parliamentary privileges ' has been marked in practice the discomfort, if not slavery, of a majority of your members. It is notorious that the license of prolix speech indulged in by a few has continually led to the enforced silence of debaters capable of staling relevant facts and contributing valuable suggestions within a reasonable compass of words. My Advisers think that the truest method of safeguarding your House's freedom will be found in forms under which members will be free to despatch business with speed and comfort. Estimates of the revenue and % the expenditure of the year will bo 'laid before you. The estimate of expenditure has been framed with due regard to economy. Hox Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — Measures will be submitted to you j designed to further simplify the administration of justice and to consolidate the law on various subjects. The moment appears fitting for reprinting the statutes at present in force, and my Advisers recommend that a commission for the purpose should be set up. The important principle of levying rates upon land values only will again be urged upon your acceptance, and a bill intended to prevent loans at usurious rates of interest will be presented for your consideration. During last Parliament a number of measures designed especially to in>

! . prove the conditions under which the j manual laborers of the country work i were read in the House of Representai tives, but only one finally became law. , This is exactly what happened in the j past session before the dissolution of ! 1890. Then as. now there' followed a very plain expression of public opinion in favor of pressing not only the rejected bills, but other measures of the ;snme kind. My Advisors therefor**, propose to press forward both tin- labor bills of last year and certain new measures relating to factories, apprenticps, and indiscriminate immigration. The measure last referred to, involving as it does an important question of policy, will be introduced at an early period of the session. J desire you to give these matters your attention I earnestly assure you of my wish to aid your exertions for the good of the colony. I pray that your efforts may, with God's blessing, promote the happiness and the well-being of the people of New Zealand. In the House of Representatives — ■ A number of notices of motion were given. The Premier gave explanations with reference to the delay that has occurred in issuing a writ for the election of a member for Tuapeka. A long discussion took place as to the alleged illegal ussne of the writ in the case of the Waitemata election. The matter will come up at a cuture stage. The Hon. Mr Seddon moved the adjournment of the House, and in doing so lie said he wished to say a few words of regret at the death of the late Hon. Vincent Pyke. They all missed him very much from amongst them, and he was sure he expressed the opinions of all when he said Mr Pyke had been thoroughly beloved and respected. He felt also that the miners of the Colony were very much indebted to the late member for Tuapeka, who had clone so much for them. Oapt. Russell, Sir R. Stout, and the Hon. W. P. Reeves spoke in a similar strain. TUESDAY, JUNE 26. In the Legislative Council — The Hon Sir, P. Buckley referred to the assassination of President Oarnot and moved that an address be forwarded to his Excellency the Governor with a request that it be transmitted to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, expressing the Council's indignation at the dastardly act, and the Council's assurance of deep sympathy with the French nation at the untoward event. — Agreed to. A number of sessional committees were set up. In the House of Representatives — The following bills were introduced : —Criminal Code Act 1693 Amendment Bill, Bill to Admit Women to the General Assembly of New Zealand, Town Districts Bill, Pharmacy Bill, Bill Dealing with Gambling, Shearers' Accommodation Bill, Shop and Shop Assistants, Masters and Apprentices, School Attendance, Immigration, Eight Hours, Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendent, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration, Conspiracy Law Amendment, Factories Act Amendment, Threshing Machine Owners' Lien, Elective Executive, Rating, Rating on Unimproved Value Prescription Law (Light) Amendment, Designation of Districts, Harbors Act Amendment, Companies' Accounts Audit, Arms Act Repeal, Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses, Mining Companies, Electoral Act Amendment, Hawkers and Peddlers, Betterments, Tramways, Debts Itecovei-y Limitation and Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill. The Hon. R. Seddon (replying to Sir R. Stout) said no appointment to the office of Sergeant-at-Arms had been made by the Government, but the Government weuld give the house an early opportunity of dealing with the question. Sir R. Stout then called attentionfto the fact that a gentleman not a member of the House was present. Sir M. O'Rorke said when he came to the House on Thursday last he found a Sergeant-at-Arms, and he said he had no objection whatever, as he had known Colonel Eraser as a member of the House and of the Provincial Council. He was under the impression that last session the power of electing the officers of the House was transferred, from the Speaker, but he had since found there was no authorit}' for that statement. The position now was that after his election as Speaker he was asked by the Government if he had any objection to Colonel Eraser's appointment, and he said he had no objection, believing as he did then that those appointments had been transferred from the Speaker to the Government. Sir R. Stout said the Premier had told them that afternoon that no appointment had been made, and, therefore, grave consequences might arise if Colonel Eraser had not been appointed Sergeant-at-Arms. He had no right to be in the House, as he was not a member. After a long discussion, The Hon. Mr Seddon said he should bring down a motion on the subject next day. Sir R. Stout gave, notice to move j next day- — ' That a respectful address be presented to the Governor praying

him to appoint a suitable person as j Sergeant-at-Avms.' The Hon. Mr Seddon moved — ' That a respectful address be presented to the Governor, . requesting him to convey to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, for presentation to the French Govern men t", an expression of the House of * Representatives' condemnation of the dastardly assassination of President Oarnnt. and of its i deep sympathy with tin; French nation in this untoward event." — The motion was seconded by Capt. Russell, and agreed to. Mr Montgomery moved the Address-in-Reply to the Governor's speech, which was seconded by Mr O'Regan. Capt, Russell, the Hon. W. P. Reeves, and others also spoke, and the debate was adjourned.