GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXX, Issue 1, 1 July 1913, Page 7

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

JLptf'S P° uCY OUTLINED.

AND DEFENCE.

-■ WELLINGTON, June 27. LJiwnent «as opened at 2.30 p.m. *Sleacy the Governor was aci **2 i St tady Liverpool and staff, the 6th Mounted RegiSd i!gM rf of honor of the Col_ was a large attendance of the rLft inside and out, and. mem«f both Houses mustered in full 1 <[!<, weather was excellent, lowing «as the Jeech from the throne. «,h!g Gentlemen of the Legislat.ve Ceil, »" d Gentlemen of the S» of Representat.ves,i »tos me much pleasure to meet far the first time in Parliament asU«d The lo>' a l enthusiastic fm» with which I was received as Tfoiesty's representative by the -to of to Domm.on upon my arnval FLjally gratifying and the warn Swhich was accorded to me by Maori subjects was rely with feelings of deep appreciaThese demonstrations i look upon i sincere expression of the loyalty ior Sovereign entertained by the Tof his subjects in this Dominion. « assuming the responsibilities of atment I have vis.ted various parts S e Jjorth and South Islands and i token every opportunity of makonself familiar with the general isnees of the country and the bfons of the people. li has g». vwi .jjjgare in the course of my visits krone known to large numbers of inhabitants of the Dominion. I have Ljj with the deepest interest the sices and potent.aiit:es ot the countnd the many signs of prosperity [comfort that are apparent in the s of the people. 1 feei confident j Bwhen the great natural advantages | M this country assesses become to widely known in Great Britain jay suitable settlers will be attracted jits shores. |hl\iox's prospects bright. It is pleasing for me to be able to jpmce that the volume of trade durk the past J 6 * 1 ' was tne largest reb)ed in the history of the Dominion, fa outlook for the coming season is 'Ai and although the world-wide final stringency caused by the discondition oi affairs in Europe r large and extraordinary demands tor ijiej has not disappeared, still there jwery reason 'to believe that the exfcaice through which New Zealand d other countries are passing is only %mmt and that notwithstanding

nporary financial restriction the Do«on may look forward another ir of continued prosperity and satisttory remuneration for those engaged ier industries. THE ASSASSINATED KING.

Hie news of the assassination of King inrge of Greece (.the brother of Queen tadra) was received in this DominI with profound regret. The messages {sympathy from the Government and pe of New Zealand which were Bnsmitted by me to the Queen-mother (re duly acknowledged. ' OBITUARY. ;l deeply regret that Death has reBved two much esteemed members of k General Assembly in the persons of It Artkur Robert Guinness (late Ipaker of the House of Representaj») and Sir William, Jukes Steward oi the Legislative Council) id a former Speaker of the House of wresentatives.

SE DOMINION'S DREADNOUGHT. Hie arrival of H.M.s. New Zealand «appropriately celebrated and every Kible opportunity was afforded the tens and schoolchildren to visit the >ip during her stay in New Zealand iters.

UTILISING THE LAND. The agricultural and pastoral indusn« ol the Dominion stilt continue to "N and the constant demand for w areas of land points to the con»»n that the iuture of New ZeaW is closely bound up with develop!«t in the country districts, and that jM suitable for settlement, whe«r Crown land, native land or pri-wly-omed iand. cannot be allowed 'remain unproductive but must be Wm tor the benefit of the Dominion »»whole. ■louwili I* to learn that during "recess the operations under the m tor Settlements Act have » fWsire. Returns will be laid before »show.ng the area of land purchased £ subdivided in pursuance of the [»« contained in this statute. The wnsion of privately-owned estates '«* Proceeding satisfactorily', reconstruction oi railways" and the FJS of roads are being vigorously ff,th ff,th and no effort is being FW to develop the agricultural, pasl") mining and other resources of The legislation passed last S?& relative to the settlement and £f«Hm of land is working satisfacfcnW 'stabling a considerable Srfii settlers WQO w* been holdfefc of . the &on to exchange KwW or \ reehold titl es- A met Kl for your conS in\f t ? ndln K th e principle conMs 1. u le B ls lation of last year to E&uEL n ? >n . fease und er *e Land RS ™ te Acts and also providing Ed in ? re wt ' sfactorv settlement of fctfaiEU lng distric te. while at the PpSeEnr^^r 6 "^ B N fe" eld lrom the Cr own under RiadT 8 ? expirt ' d durin s the v asi NtalS? the present session were mto ~ ° n V e , ar o,ll y- You will be V+hJi mendthe 'aw under which B«trfi2. tw . im P r «vwHC'ijt with the S and &!?R tk ' carrying capaguY Pwductiveness of the large Nf Zg OUUU7 suitabl « °*to f <»

T he BR f ° H KAILWAYS. SHiTtf* 8 ?, 01 settlement in l* *B nrV n+ e Doinini on accentu--7 *F»»t m P. rovi . n g »the confii^ 5 oi communication ** L 7^ Ct,on of frauch railonse *« numerous re£S thS** 1 1° construct branch lv ? s J*! advisers proL* 6 «me t;if 6x P r <»sed desire and pWinterS C&refnlly " rfe ßu«d &<* PACIFIC. £j*»S V C ttoGrea t Britain the ES with enco < Hon - J- Allen) E*fts2« mthe Pacific - There! IM- will be laid be-

RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA. During the recess the Minister for Customs (Hon. F. M. B. Fisher) visited Australia and there entered into negotiations for a reciprocal trade treaty between the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand. The papers relating to these negotiations will be presented to Parliament, A reciprocal old age pension agreement was also discussed, and proposals will be submitted to you for ratification this session. THE HARVEST OF THE SEA. 1 am pleased to be able to inform you that with a view to establishing the fishing industry of the Dominion upon a sound basis the Government has arranged for the chief administrator of the Canadian Fisheries Department to visit Xew Zealand. MILITARY TRAINING. You will be gratified to learn that the scheme of compulsory military training is firmly established and that its beneficial effect upon the character and _ physique of the youth of the Dominion is already apparent. The excellent spirit which pervades the wihole force and the keenness displayed by all ranks argue well for the future. .My Government has invited General Sir lan Hamilton (Inspector-General of the Overseas Forces) to visit New Zealand), ihe invitation has been accepted and this distinguished officer will arrive in the Dominion in April, 1914. LABOR QUESTIONS.

It is a matter for congratulation that employment, especially in the small districts, can be obtained without difficulty. It is proposed to submit for your consideration some important amendments to the Industrial, Conoiliauou and Arbitration Act which it is hoped will enable the parties to industrwl disputes to effect a spiedy and reasonable settlement without involving the country in the trade dislocations and industrial losses which strikes and lock-outs invariably cause. A Bill consolid'ting and amending the Shops and Offices Act will also be introduced. WORKERS' DWELLINGS. During the past year a considerable area of land has l>een purchased in pursuance of the powers contained in the Workers' Dwellings Act. A Bill will be introduced to enable the operations of tliis useful measure to be more easily applied to country districts. The estimates of expenditure for this year will include a sum sufficient to provide for this work. THE RAILWAYS.

A gentleman of high standing in the railway world has been appointed general manager of railways and will take up his duties in September next. THE COOK ISLANDS.

Mr H. W. Novthcroft, N.Z.C.A. a gentleman will known throughout New Zealand, who served as a stipendiary magistrate for many years, has been appointed Resident Commissioner at the Cook Islands. NATIVE LANDS.

The important question of the settlement or unused native knd has received the earnest consideration of my advisers and a Bill will be laid before you containing provisions which will make for the more expeditious settlement of such lands. A measure dealing with the rating of native land will also be submitted to you. THE TRADE COMMISSION. A section of the Royal Commission appointed by his Majesty to inquire into the trade of the Empire visited New Zealand and every facility was afforded by my advisers to enable it to gain the fullest information regarding the trade of the Dominion. IMPORTANT COMMISSIONS. Commissions were appointed during the recess to inquire into the subjects of forestry and) the working of the Public Trust Office. The reports of these Commissions will be duly placed before you. Mr Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— The state of the country's finance made it necessary that the Hon. the Minister for Finance should pay a visit to Great Britain during the recess. You will be pleased to hear that his mission was eminently successful and that notwithstanding the existence of unfavorable financial conditions in England he was able to complete arrangements of a highly satisfactory character. Particulars of the various transactions

which the Minister successfully negotiated will be submitted to you for consideration. The public revenue is steadily increasing and you will doubtless be gratified to learn that as a result of the taxation upon large estates the receipts derived from this source have been considerably augmented and, more important still, that subdivision and settlement have been encouraged and accelerated. The estimates for the services of the ensuing year will be laid before you without delay. Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— A measure will be submitted to you providing for the reform of the. Legislative Oouncil in a manner which my advisers believe will increase the usefulness of that branch of the Legislature. THE COST OF LIVING. Proposals will also be introduced by which it is hoped that the cost of liv-, ing will be lessened to persons of small incomes. IMPORTANT MEASURES. There are now ready for your consideration Bills consolidating and amending the law of copyright into line with the law of Great Britain and another leading European nation. Measures amending the existing statutes affecting local bodies, a Graduated Income Tax Bill, a consolidation and amendment of the State Guaranteed Advances Act, an amendment of the Public Revenues .Act, an amendment of the Land Transfer Act, a Bill defining the law of libel, measures enabling advances to be made to persons engaged in the fruit industry, amending the law governing the police force, and altering the constitution of the Public Trust Office Board, as well as other Bills dealing with matters of public interest, will be placed before you. All these measures, designed as they have been in the interests «f the people who inhabit this Dominion I confide to your careful attention and I trust that Divine Providence will bless your efforts to discharge efficiently your onerous duties.