THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 632, 8 October 1909, Page 4

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

fe.;|:H6mrabife'(Wtlcm^^^ mf?W ittvParliaWeatVassembled< :..Since.'last sesslpa"! pi!iis:^.pftte;Wf" l&l :J n yß6lf ;pf ; of; visit:' teay*tt%;^oifae': which: pifei?:; land4n the jperiodXbf "ihyV'absencb. : -visit"-''-I' js&r : iv':nppoirtted?Sir.2Jam^ fcp? iiaiities;, with..characteristic- card- and .disotetioiii' fc(w* J :^a?"inwh^-impr6ssed~T«ith; v the;;-peoplQ,f thoKfe* the pictateto'tobss'-o'fiheJielttSds Ws t ; 'i ; , t ? I .f,=? a ;*? ra V "sowtesi'there'iwaiting:cultivation' KrIK -j) yM ' iinßuiSVthe'.'rapid,- prbgrera rand'permanent K^&P^ggtite^of^e\Grbiip4':^lvkayo; •also'f.sincail tei";-'.-.'.! 0 ?' Jbiet ■■ "acquaintance feiV;n:* l ™ :tho'iemotof:'pafts':and population of this 0;', :v,-:D6,iniiii6i:'s<A liS^H^ o pi-; r 'j;. 6f.."its t :'r&?ffi-.-zz.i,-'-K'*t^. ; -Death.•: hasjrocently iTembved-'ironii'.lis''place fci;:? in :4ha : House ;d£:.Eebre's'ebtatives ■• Mr.' ; Arthur' pa?;v;;':lidward Remington, the member".for- Rangitiltoi, f : .ii:iViWhoseindustrious dovotion'.to' his'.public duties C|-;;'^'emphasises• the'/widespread.'regret,.for' a ■'.'lit» Bjftl' ofitheiusunlf-span.^^K^;;,: ■-,-.! :.;.-' rgce^aHwo: representatives' of • the* ts'!^■'i ; ■'Coldriinl^Onl6e/•Sir.':.<)ha^le8 I ?Lucas > • I :K•.C.M.G.; ii^^ind 1 Mr,. ';A:-:.Oi i ;PehTSoh;,;C.M,G/,'v yis'itcd ;Now %%£'• Zealand,': M>A.??° l a.l : fioi i J a s-' M l "' : i .wy/'^ilyisefs^ahd''Other. publio: : men : ES'i; jJearnt-rnnch- of tKe 'Sentiment,- aspirations, arid idea'.S'pf -.its'•people;,!Their-visit; te'.iV'C- wnl ?hjVwas'';'due'<to; : the)-wishes' : '.'6xp j%S' : -j oversea \-deUgates at :'the';']ast !K^ ; ;.:fprehco,-iwill,y it;;is /j)olie9e'.d, ; :.b'e;?condneive' ; to p:y?;s : ; Btl »ißreator/harmpny;;bctwecii;xthis-;? And,.'' the PV— ■■ Imperial .-Govern men t;v:~'v?v y -U- rf>'; .'■': -V-i-'''-.-*''; tb ; :knbw. sthat'-LOrd |jinf.f..*itchen^';late : !Cqmnia'ri^er-iri-Chi6f: ; 'ih ( lridiaV iKS;^y r fySßV'.'h:^ teV/.niSVon "behalf of'. thejpeopleVo'f:>NewiZealand to?>>;.™»thp:/Lmp!ro,:iwill: insure : worthy p^s-;eontihjied:'.bauatifm;.4nd''tho : '.pro'duotivei«>ss>of fjft r :i-' 1 tSf average, .forward'-;■ Measured fc-:',4?;;.'.;: quanta tively^thej\totatffprbductiba'is :• greater, psl- ;!cver;*;;.pnfortahately,S fiiiancialWdisturb-' fe?Ki.'PS??/'"*'.;theij.OldlAYorldiandilbiy;.prices for Ri v v;*- ,i',^ e " , ' < s'* f "products.-'of"this Dominion u-xi ' in.,.; the 'unoricy-niarket tbfifc inebroe'of-Nbw t*xW> 'these .'causes i\k;: rabidly ; ydisabpcafihgy as '■ prices F', ? 4lv' ; ;>are,irecoycring.;aiiu-financial striiigcnby.'relax-' f fe'B^S^ he >Pf#nX :■ tchi'. 'fe-:-SvP. 0t a,t.ely. cbhsidbrgd;' is te;'Vs ;a ß|i!Jl. heartening, .that' sp'iiit'bf''.yigbrbUs ehter|;^:.;r'Pi rise' ; HWhich^mEkes..thb;''pebpl6 l Zeajj®; s 'V.land^o^rbßressive. :vr^; : ; ;.:v:'.;:i j'\- •:.';,• -V'rt.. ferenpe ; pfidolegatos''fromithe'!Chambors feS««:oi-VPnimcrc'a.o£.th'e '.whole Jlmpire :has:recently ml}.' beon;..in: session, in;: Sydney, ■ considering' brobtiJs^;;;leins;, and .questions' whioh; affect-' tho • cominerp-*: :of ; -aU:iHis,4ln3csty*s :dominions. p*:«-,th&- invitation' Of "my sGoverninentHb visit - Now |"«S:Zeal4ttd.^Tbex l snreSbpCordially KVj-i:;;received;^' l v.;;-:;-.,^: ivM-l ."::--'..: :: teA^OWpf'the' mostiinlpbrtanfcbKpuMhdustricsi thq=valiio.:()f;its product and the f.&i'S number^ of, lts'.workmeh,xis thb..timbor' : industry te,:/Popre&ion.;and':dißprMniSation'Vihaving: arisen t?4°#i?ffyx:(luc; ;tbVitho :iijiporh«;A^?W°'U O S»'"iBU L timber),; my: mv& 1 ? : .W'sable^to-zhavp.:a.^Royalv'Commission ap; tiip.i.P o ?* 4 ?? l " upon tho P-M;: £?, u^?i '.••' B »di; np°n ''any-,.siiggcstedV remedies. e :?Ammission;has,concliidcd:a.very;thorough pS ■'- : and fe;?X ffle W'pns wijl in;due'co ; urso.be;;placed before W : + v&m -tT 6 T \ ma s?- '■ ! n .parliament against the p.l.S''? L^i Cß rs epar i m^n t'-; and ? !m tff'iS -;tb?t;/4:^Department. so..'blosefy .allied -to/tho-ad. siispidph/bf W-M ■-■ Buch-:,cr^similar ; .chargesi asked:mo "to l 'appoint K''v;'; ; : B ,pommission:to l investigatb,and'repbrt on tho h;>V r.-obarges,; in :;":u'pon- -any; others b.: ; :i:,brpflfht •;j;:i;riraendatipns,of .the^commission'will bo'lajd bfr 6J:^/ore:ypirfor:.cpnsideratipn;&:'..>.^

:|Sv^j' : i::^Qußtoms/Reyenue' : and;Rfltrenc^^ £vM;'Mr:^peakor. ; andy,Gentiemen'6f^th'o- Blouse of 'S;?v-'v /--'Representatives,— fr:^l; :l %s£. with"theVprovious-year's re--•*■:'•'/;tnrns; thore was '.an- increase last year in 't • ..Vffe.ve'i.u':' from';post" and '.-telegraphs,-'-railways, , : ;v;-''i. : :!»nd. and- income- tax, .excise, 'stamps,' marine, .:£:•/v end •■'miscellaneous/.services. ,;-:,,Owing, however, aKitf.cJiieflyV to /theiromissionyn \Gnstoms- duties - on St= ; ffi%the ..various; imported'-neiessaries'of life,'and 'S'wSP&rtly...to tho;fa]lingroff,-in"iiriportsinatur'ally £5$; .cot.sequent /Upon the dlminisbod»rcturn for cx-Si-i-'-. : .-potts f ;.-. ; thetotal/.ttmbunt-oi'" revenue' KW/yvHs'dedreasedi^Sd : far.'as.this;is/duo to tho re--SfSniissid^s;^^^^ ■jiv-;%:/WhaKthe .'revohuo.Vhaa :so: lost the people havo :;/«':..(piiiea) has any occasion for regret. V .. ;«,;; -t. : vißbrousieffort has been mado' /:'/;■;;?'/ to Vj'cduce. ; the,; cost;. of ■', the /public service ": by. ! :jS;:?i ; i6malgamating.:--Departniente :<rt.'-'dispftnsing:with:any branches' which; have fuI-.KV..-'fllle(li:or,nearly fulfilled, the,'.purnose-of public /.whibh'/theyi were:>'originate'd.':,r:• Ifr is /?::./;;'lieliqyed/thatvwhcn<.the; necessary', retirements, ;;'£%';;? changes; and' amalgamations/are completed tho te"''-'Si'pt.blfc ■service;-'as''iar; as/practicable; will combfr/i bine tithe desiderata, of ;■■■ a -high standard of feK; andvefficien«yi' ■v'vZK.^^.-.itj&iii^a,

| Estimatesrfor the year have been prepared, j and will bo, submitted to you. You will, in. duo. course, be asked to pass tho supplies necessary for the purposes of ; government.' ;\ ■■'•■' : '- '■■':.• : ./Defence Measures...•:. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Eepre- ■■■ ■'; SOntatlVes,— -.-.. " ... v ., .'.-,.■ - -As iouare aworo,' the Bight Hon. Sir Joseph /Ward,; Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, left New. Zealand on June 18 last to attond the Defence Conference in London. That fciiferenco marks ;an epoch in tho history of tho Empire," in that'then for the first'.time the great • oversea dependencies wero taken into counsel bribe Homo Government on the vital subject oflmperial defence: It must be eminently gratifying, to New- Zealand •to - know that her ; action in voluntarily offering to tako on her shoulders some share in the great workof maintaining the security of the Empire has not only been appreciated by all parlies and classes in Great Britain, but has ..been followed,' though on .varyine; lines, by the other.depon-d(-ncies. The result.of tho deliberations of the conference, .if .riven..effect, to .by the Parliaments .concerned, will have'a wide-reaching effect in strengthening the Empire in all its componont parts,'-' Canada and Australia favour Ideal navies 'as being more consonant to local national needs, aspirations, 'and sentiment. In' t|u> case of New Zealand Sir Joseph Ward, following whatho bclievcd'to be besV for her interests 'and;most in accord with the'sentiments of her people,'and Parliament, preferred tho policy ;of "strengthening: the" Imperial ' Navy.' with provision for a section of one of the chief fleets—tho Pacific Fleet—keeping in touch with NewXZealarid. Although tho main purpose of the; conference was - naval defence, the question of land defence; was- not neglected, and important':', resolutions , on' ■ this subject were agreed;to.t!."v v:;;'.::-■•'•'- .•'.''-■■.'.•■.■. <'■ :...-,

•■'-.■ Full particulars of..what-was done at, the conferencev'will'.be :laid-,befor'o, : y'ou, together withi'suchi legislative.(and'- other proposals as are necessary,in Order to give effect to tho resolutions arrived, at. yl. feel assured thatyou will.give them your most careful consideration, 'and-that-'tho result of your deliberations will bo alike" honourable to Now Zealand and helpful to 'tho-Empire.. Legislation effecting' important . alterations- in tho internal dofenco of tljeVDo'minionlwill also be. submitted to you... ■■■JiYP-J ;Loan's and • Webster Claims./ ': ; -.;''

/During his visit to London Sir? Joseph Ward obtained-and dispatched'to ; New -Zealand MtiOMO to carry on.'public works, and .£500,000 for,advances to settlors and workers— £1,000,004 .in .all—arid has made j arrangements by which, '[with a necessary alteration of tho law, moneys required-Tor local: bodies and' other public pur-possS-cari'-b'o" obtained.' : To oftoct tho requisite proposals-,-will, bp submitted, ox' tending "the scope of tho'Advances to 1 Settlers' Department, and mating it the medium for'obtaining, in. England,- 'moneys/ for'. tho, use -of local public bodies, aneLalso;for ■■ raising tho necessary" sums .'for, thopufchaGo. of lands for settlement.;. The Department's loan operations will be" guaranteed ; >by tho State. '■, Legislation will' be submitted object for your consideration^-J•.';'■>r.! v .-'!; , :-/"-.;ii■■• . '•'■.;• .-.'- ,', A.What are known fife-the lobster land claims, which have been assorted by the United States Government against .tho Imperial Government at. various I '' times 'during tho last fifty "years,' were'again;; revived a'short tiraoagOi and, as hon'former, occasions, the Imperial Government communicated with the. Government of New, Zealand. ; -My<: Advisers fctfUseW; the wholo"caso to ;be exhaustively reviewed, and saw no rcaSouto depart, 'from..the'opihion hold by former the claim, had- no warrant in-eittier law or equity,:' :*.,.'' '/ ,'"''•,"'., r,Although; no -financial liability attaches to Now Zoaland (the transactions having, occurred government :was; established ;hero), : my Advisers 1 considered : 'it their, duty 'to co-operate with the Imperial Government, in ,'dealing; with/-the. matter, y. To. this, end-tho Prime i Minister conforrcd with the .authorities in; Londonr and.'subseqUentlv with the British Ambassador to the United States, at Montreal. As\a;'result,! it" is.-probable that,;certain".legal question?. ..will ...be submitted to' a, special' tri-bunal,'-and .there' is-little. ilonbt.but that this , coursp. will ■• finally;, dispdso. of; the. whole ..mat- : '■'■■^'':/"' " r iMail;;Services.-/ y '"-.- ■'-•. :-,-_ ,- ■ '. v.Tho 'pre'6bnti'conditi6n-:of; mail '.'connections v/ith'.tho United Kingdom is. '.unsatisfactory, ' an I negotiations are proceeding with a view to j giving a closer connection via Vancouver; and also endeavouring 16. obtain an 'improved : mail /service'via"Sari-I'rancisco. ■"■ The 'Government consider that'it, would bo of-i.'great advantage tothe Dominion/if one'of the large steamship, 'mail.'n.Brid passenger lines now .trading from ■England to Australia yia'.tho.Suez,Canal wero to extendi their, yoyage,: to New Zealand. .My AdvisOfs" will ask 1 the-authority of -Parliament to/ohanld-mail and .'passenger, services' generally to and:thereby.remove the inndoniable isolation -by .which' the Dominion at' presont. is detrimentally affected. -. / ; ,-'.■■'

■■v .'-'■ .^,aNaliyo;Lanrls.;-;':;. , v..':.'■,..-' »:;The!'Kativo>lahd. ; law-' v of -Now-,; Zealand,, now contained in;: J over''seventy 'separate,'statutes, has,' owing, chiefly-totUo': lines'ialong, which this legislation.has idevelopod for-tho last forty, years '.under;' different!/Administrations,^become, ; perplejingly 'profuse,yintrfcatft, "and'- inconsistent. 11 the- circumstances! 'the 'commissioners'-ap-pointed" ' under/the ■■ Kcprint.-, of. Statutos.; Act,. 1885, - found consolidation • an; impossible.; task, and so reported'to'me;;'SMy "Advisers have, ac-cordingly'-liada-sopnTatOyßiU prepared, revising, ;recasting,, aud. harmonising- the wholo of , tho Native, land law's of this country,' and making '.'such-amendments .as, are .requisite;. The llil'.'hvill shortly bo introduced' for, your.consideration. '.The triple gain' in. tha simplicity, .clearness,'" and: brevity "of 'this branch-',of-.'law will-facilitate, the..operation of the Nativo Lt-,nd : Courts, tho'determination of Native land -titles,;and..the.settlement'of Nativo,.lands., ily Advisers fully .'recognise' 1 that tho. rapidly • : increasing -population - pf $ the North/Island demands' • a -vigorous'..policy.;of : European sottle.'ment on •all;surplU3,-Naiiyo lauds.- The, workof the-recent-Native Xaiiu Commission' and-tho present energetic .promotion of surveys facilitate -this policy.; Itetnrns showing': what'has, been lately done in various -diroctions towards this, end will bo submitted to i you. L'iovision 'will also bo raudb for the better settlement of the;.Nutives upon the lands reserved :tOc.tlieir. use .arid.;occupation. "■-;' ■-. -'.;.' ■ ■"--. ■; Tho tiitto; has arrived ':. when -Native : lands should" bear a j larger-share of. the expense, oi the public works by which those lauds -are made- more accessible or', 'otherwise; improved in.'yalue, and; legislation .providing tor the rat-' 'iiig'pf Native;land in all;reasonable cases will be brought" before you.' .Such: a provision- will, my Advisers think, serve tho dual .purpose of a_ just-impost "and a-spur, to -the closer, settle-" meut or.cultiyation.pt' tho-'lands'affected. ; . V'..:. ;■}'■ ;.'-. ■■■S'\ Aids tcj.SettlDmaht,;, ■/'■',[ f ''\ ..

■ : ' The peraknent'..prosperity.-and .steady progress of this-Dominion /depend./chiefly: .upon the increase.'in (number and 'success of .its small farmers/in' all branches 'of that great .industry,,, and; the two cardinal aims' of. .the >Qdve'rnineiit ; in this country, are to' get and 'ke6p\;an*ovbr-ificreasing proportion of its population .uporiiits lauds. To this.end you will be asked to consider and pass tho Special Settlement Finance Bill, introduced last year, which makes.:tho-;State a,.guarantor.-behind'-'.every group of'-willing 'and.capable :Bmall. Eettlers without adequate that they will pay the purchase-money of tho freehold of any suitable-area" they -can acquire for closer 'set--tlcment from larger owners. You will bo asked to consider, further land legislation, devised, among'other thinge;,to make rural life moro attractive": to'.'encourage .settlement, and ' to more 'effectively prevent nindosirablo , aggregation of holdings You will also,bo asked to pass further legislation to prevent continuing evasions of tho Land nud Income' Assessment Act,;.,;....;' -.'.•!'!.;.;■ -. ,<- ■■',-. ;;. '/.'/■ : j,'-;'. ; ' : v"*' .Prison Reform.- ,'. '■ vThc. subject of prison reform has been en'.gaging .the .attention of my Advisers, and a ;syetem • proceeding along tho lines already successfully: tried in other progressive countries is completed... It is essential to the elF.eotivb''; working, of. this system.that the prin; •ciple'of-thoi.indetermin'ato}sentence should bo extended,: and fullor powers than 1 exist at present be given.to magistrates,for the committal of female and-juvenile offenders to homes or >refdrnMt<tfiM ; inst6ad<bf.'to;.gaol3..-.To' further

■ assist this system, some amendments of the law relating to inebriates are requisite. Legislation embodying these purposes • will bo brought before you. Harbour Boards. . My Advisers have been much interested in and impressed by >tho discussions and 'resolutions or tho various conferences of Harbour Board delegates, and in particular with tho objections which have been raised to. the systems of electing and .nominating the members of the various Harbour Boards. . A Bill will be introduced for your consideration: this session, which, although mainly a consolidating measnre, will include many, amendments suggested and approved by the diflerOnt Harbour Board conferences. National. Annuities Bill. , My Advisers are of opinion that it is tho tL "i,™. State to encourage the workpeople of< the Dominion to mako provision against loss of earnings due to incapacity, through sickness or accident, and further to make provision for old age, and, in the case of death, for the maintenance of dependents. Such provision the State now substantially assists the members of its.Civil Service to make, and.similar assistance is'proposed in the caso of all workers' .to private employment. With this object you *!} >e asted to pass tho, National Annuities Will introduced last year, and also'amendments of the; P^icler^ce Tith t?l^SUPOrimnUatiOß Other Measure's, The paramount importance to human health o?L£ i ° f tt '-PH". milk-supply, has been !incroasinglvrecognised by the municipalities of this country, and the timo has now arrived when boroughs and cities should bo empowered by law to take 6uch measuros as they think fit to secure pure' milk for the people, inolud■ing, if necessary, that of establishing a municipal supply. This and some other desirable amendments of tho Municipal Corporations Act will bo submitted for your consideration. ■;.'- ■•■'■"■.• »At present there is some overlapping ,of function among the Hospital and. (Jharitablo Aid Boards,-and some objection to the method Of creating these boards. Theso defects will be remedied by a Bill which will bo laid beforo you. -.'.-■ .-_.-•; 1 It will be remembered that important proposals for the amendment of'shipping and seamen legislation were agreed to by tho Maritime Conference held in.London in 1907, at which the Prime Minister, the Eight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, represented New Zealand. You will bo ;asked to consider legislation amending our Shipping and Seamen, Act so as .to 'give, effect to: the'proposals of tho Cpnferenco. . 'The mining industry continues -prosperous, bnt, employing as it does a very large number of our people, it deserves the.fullest encouragement at the hands of the Government. The existing mining legislati6n'is working smoothly, .but somo amendments-are desirable to make it more effective. These will be submitted for your, consideration, .:■'•. ' Legislation removing the difficulties which arose in connection with miners' complaint and medical,examination .of minors will be submitted to yon.; Bills, amcuding'or consolidating the law with regard to Native lands, lands 'for settlement, advances to settlers, Crown lands,' friendly societies, hospital and charitable aid, municipal 'corporations, harbour boards, factories, 6hops and .offices, workmen's homes, workers' compensation for - accidents," industrial schools, public works, valuation of land, Maori Councils, companies, bankruptcy, the law of libel,.in-decent-literature, and other important matters will be .introduced for' your, attention.. I', feel, sure that in all these. matters whoso' purpose is the improvement, of the well-being of tho people and'tho development of the re-. sounds of a; richly-endowed country yoti will employ tout best, energy and judgment, and I.trust that by. the, blessing of Almighty God your deliberations, and proceedings will bo to the credit of Parliament, the good of ■ Now Zealand, and, tho honour of tho Empire. , : .■:•....