PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1366, 17 February 1912, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

The Iron Industry.

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH

A LENQTHY DOCUMENT.

MANY PROMISES,

Members of both Houses of Parliament (fer.o assembled in the Legislative Council' Chamber yesterday afternoon to hear tho fulfilment of tho promiso that the Governor wonld attend to explain tlio Toason for tho early assembly of Parlia<ment. Tho arrival- of the Governor was preceded by the entrance of tho members, of tho Council, who wcro shortly afterwards followed by the Speaker (Sir Charles C. Bowern). Eleven ladies were present on tho floor of tho Chamber, among them being Lady Ward," Miss Ward, Lady Carroll, Mi's. E. M'Kenzic, and Miss Mackenzie. A bouquet of white and flame-coloured tiger lilies was presented to Lady Ward by tho Speaker. Coincident with.tho departure of tho Governor from the vice-regal residence, a #aluto was. fired by tho battery at Pipirea Point. Tho escort was provided by a detachment of tho Fifth Regiment of Mounted Hides, and at Parliament House a guard of honour was formed by tho Wellington College senior cadets. The afternooin was beautifully fine, in striking contrast t') ttie boisterous weather of preceding days, and a considerable' gathering of citizens watched tho arrival of the Governor. Lord Islington entered the Chamber attended by his aides-de-camp (Captain W. Shannon and Captain Escott), his.private secretary (Mr. Arthur Guise); Major-General A. J.- Godley, general officer commanding' the New Zealand Forces; Colonel -Robin, C.8.,' C.AI.f!., AdjutantGeneral; Colonel Heard, Director of Military Training; Colonel Collin3, C.M.G., Hod. A.D.C. to the Governor; Lieut--Col. Knox, Quartermaster-General; and Captain Spencer-Smith, staff officer. The absence of Lady Islington is explained by the fact that she is at present visiting Auckland.; Tho gallery was not so crowd-' ed as usual, .only spectators being a comparatively; small, number of ladies, wives ' of members, ■ and tho press representatives. Tlio entrance of the faithful Commons was heralded by tho dull tramp of their . progress through', the corridors, md they filed in quietly, tho Speaker [Sir A. R. Guinness), attended by . the Sergeant-at-Arms, with the mace, and tho Clerk of tho House (Mr. H. OtterE'en), preceding the members. The Prime Minister: (Sir Joseph Ward) and his colleagues formed tho front rank, and the other members were crowded behind them. There was an expectant hush when tho Governor commenced his Speech, and it was maintained throughout, though occasionally. whispered remarks followed tho disclosure of some unusnally sensational plan in the Government's policy.

.THE SPEECH

The Governor's Speech was as follows:— Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the Housa of. Eepresen tatires,—

Tho circumstances which have arisen in consequence of the .last general election have, in the opinion of my Advisers, made it expedient that Parliament should bo called together at an earlier date than usual.

Daring tie recess I have visited various parts Jof the Dominion and, .made myself hotter "acquainted with tho people. I am glad to be able to congratulate you npon tho continued prosperity of the country. Tho outlook is most promising, and contentment .and happiness obtain everywhere.

Local Government and Upper House. """ vei 7 great and difficult question of revising onr local-government law has had the closest attention of my Advisers and a Bill Trill bo introduced providing a completely new and comprehensive scheme under which, amongst many other re-' forms, the finances of local bodiej and the important question of tho construction and maintenance of roads will bo : f «n 011 a m ° rß 6tablt> lnd satirfactol 7

This scheme will be made the basia for radical changes in the constitution of the Legislative.Council, and a Bill to carry this inio effect will be introduced. Under wt TM™ r T *■ ? ro P° rtion °f tho members of the Legislative Council will be elected by tho members of tho Provincial Councils to be created by the new Local l , ' a P ro P ol rtion will be fleeted by tho members of the House of 2~tahves, and a certain number : " denominated by the Government. , m- b ? b& Tcferre * to the local puohc bodies for consideration and report. The Land Question.

My-Advisers consider that, owing to the rapid disappearance of the last remnants unalienated Crown lands, lcfrislation must bo passed providing for tho mora pS&""of T^/"'^^Wement purposes, of freehold estates of ,£2i nnn unimproved value and upwards To tl, ° a mn«U be inJdu^gM^t t0 fak ° theso -Les°comPnlsonly at-a-price to bo fixed by the v! th T r . b t ! ' Tbc Bni P ynient system; and in tho event of the '™irz'7''r"r intm-n-f -ii ? 5 S excess, witli W pH^enliLft 'nSt°nt r * Protn °!° th ° settleon OWB ° rS thTOUsh tho Crown on the best terms obtainable. Such nrn ™on- will opnrato concnrreatlr wi^a OLtW ... rp! " 3 MtiTo '**>&■ In r that the .areas resarved for tho and occupation 0 f tho Maorj occupied by them, ~ c k More stringent provisions will be mado ftstafp ' tho aggregation of landed states in contravention of tho law and Km" i bß r C " tbo Conrts to for- • v. > W^ h 25 been am-eeatod in broach of tho law, unless the Conrt is fully satisfied that tho broach was ,' n ' B K 3 ,6tcm with °'? rc! 1 tho limitation of area will bo IhnT 7 an ri Pro V "i - will 1,0 ma de for standards of living-areas, based not merely ■pon the productiveness, but also upon Hip position, reading, etc., and all other mam considerations affecting tho areas in question. These standards will bo so . j 3 to give an area which, properly worked, will provide on a safo overage nmplo means of subsistence for a man ? !" fp - an(l fimfy. and a sufficient margin for saving, with a view to independence.

Legislation will be introduced to preTont the present trafficking in Crown leases, and provision will bo made that •where a tenant sells bis lca-sc, without satisfactory causa, before a certain number. of -years has exuired, a portion of tho

price ho obtains for tho goodwill of it will bo taken by tho State, and tho shorter the period tho tenant retains, his leaso, tho larger tho sharo tho State will roceiro. Graduated Land Tax. Mr. Speaker and 'Gentlemen of tho House of lvopr('«'ntativ<\-,— My Advisers will place before Parliament a statement of tho finances of the Dominion, which it is gratifying to know aro in a and satisfactory position.

TJie graduated land-tax will be adjusted and mado raoro uniform, tho rates V,fling increased from the point of unimproved value upwards. The main purposo of tho new graduated land tax will bo to compel subdivision in ordor to insure closer settlement of the lands. An alteration in the method now applying to towns and cities will be submitted.

Tho land-tax will also be revised, and exemption for taxation purposo3 will bo raised to .£IOOO, so as to giro further rolief to famrers and occupiers of small holdings.

Legislation will also bo introduced to distinguish for. taxation purposes between earned and unearned incomes, so that earned incomes shall bear a smaller burden of taxation than those which are unearned, also to reduce the tax payable by widows .with limited incomes, and to distinguish, between incomes of parents who aro educating and maintaining a family and those who have no such responsibility. Labour Troubles. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— My Advisers fully recognise, also, that tho increasing complexity of many social questions demands a competent and impartial investigation of the facts upon which these questions aro based. It is proposed to create a standing Commission of Industrial Investigation, consisting of two representatives of the labour unions and one each of the industrial, commercial, and landed interests. This Commission will inquire into any question affecting tho cost of living, the existence of monopolies, and other pressing social and industrial problems, including the question of unemployment and sickness, and, after inquiry, will report thereon to Parliament. By this means my Ministers hope to provide the people as a whole with full and reliable information

regarding the facts from which urgent social and industrial questions aro now arising, and also furnish Parliament with

tho basis for necessary remedial legisla-

Improved legislation Trill bo introduced dealing with the labour trobules which have recently arisen in New Zealand. In this connection my Advisers propose to amend the present Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act in the direction of removing causcs that lead to unnecessary friction between employers and employees. Under the proposed amendment tho President of ■ the Arbitration Court will not necessarily be a Supreme Court Judge or other lawyer, but, as has been found expedient in Canada, some practical and recognised authority in economic

My Government have had under carefnl consideration, as a useful, step towards industrial harmony, tho promotion of voluntary profit-sharing, with a reasonable 'share for tho employees in tho business in which they are employed in all suitable industrial 'enterprises,' by means of a new system of Stato guarantee of the capital required by tho workers, on con-

dition that the workers and employers jointly indemnify the State against loss. The Teport of the Mines Commission has been received, which, together with the evidence, will be duly placed beforo you. My Advisers will submit important proposals for the benefit of those working in tho mines, and for the improvement of this important industry.

Electoral Law—Tariff—Free Travel. Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— Experience has shown that the present electoral law is not working satisfactorily, and that in practice many people entitled to vote aro disfranchised. Substantial changes in our electoral law will therefore be submitted for your consideration. My Advisers recognise that tko time has arrived for a complete revision of the Customs tariff by experts, and upon the scientific lines which have been adopted • with such groat success in Canada, Germany, and other countries, with a view to a true protective system encouraging suitable local industries, and enabling them to provido fuller employment and better wages, for onr people. In this connection, too, under the altered system of graduated tax upon the land, sufficient revenue will be obtained to warrant a reduction in the duty on tobacco and on many articlos in daily use required by the small farmers, the workers, and their wives and families.

Further concessions will be mado in railway-passenger faros for children. Up to-five years of age they will travel free, and from five to fourteen years at quarter rates. This will give greator opportunities to those who can ill afford to pay to secure some change not only for health purposes, but • also - for the purposes of their occupation and daily lifo. It is also proposed to revise the railway freight rates, with a view to reduction on certainarticles affecting the country settlers.

Social Measures. . Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— In order to promote the further opening up and development of the country, my Government will' continuo to actively prosecute tho making of railways, roads, and bridges. Jly Advisers recognise that the health of tho community is a national asset, and should as far i\s possible be promoted and protected nationally. Jn furtherance of this object, the principle of the existing system of trained nurses will be extend" ed by providing medical attendance for all those who are not reasonably able to secure tho same, whether they bo tho small farmer or worker, or their wives or children. Convalescent homos will also bo established for mothers after maternitv.

Legislation dealing with old ago pensions will bo submitted, fixing the ago for women at sixty years, and for wido°ws at fifty-five years, without any restrictions as to children. Proposals for invalidity cases will also bo placcd before you. It is proposed to establish a Burean of Justice, by providing, at the expense of the Stato in all proper eases, lc»al assistance for the protection or defence of a man's rights and liberty where ho has not tho means of securing such assistance.

Facts have come before my Advisers which show that trusts and combines are operating to some oxtent in thin Dominion, and, as the existing legislation may prove insnfficiont to suppress tho evil, a Bill oxtending the present law will be introduced.

Tho sneews. which has followed Stat® enterprise in New Zealand has induced inr Advisers to decide upon tho nationalisation of the iron industry. By providing cheaper material tho ironworking establishments tliat now employ a largo number of people will be able to greatly expand their operations, and employment will be fonnd for a great number of workers in producing iron' and steel from the raw product. If satisfactory arrangements cannot be made with regard to the development of the oilfields oi Um Da.

minion by private enterprise, or if any attempt is made (o put it under tlio control of any trust or eombinc, that industry will be nationalised as well.

Proposals will be submitted to establish a State coal-mino and coal-depots in tho provincial district of Auckland, in order to give tho inestimable advantage of cheaper coal to tho peoplo of that province. Small Holdings, My Ministers are satisfied that it would be of great advantage to the workers in the different ocntres if they were able to acquire cottage farms from tho State suliicientlv near their usual work to enable them to employ their spare time npon these farms, in fruitgrowing, dairying, market-gardening, or other profitable purpose.;. The proposed pystem is based upon lines which have proved so successful in England and America, and on the Continent of Europe.

Ar.v Government, as tho results of practical experiments on poor and what has hitherto been regarded as unproductive lund, have decided to set aside areas for disposal on easy terms for fruitgrowing under co-operative associations and small holdings to individuals, and for this purpose will render reasonable financial assistance to enable tho farms in tho earlier stages to be profitably worked. The legislation introduced last year for the creation and promotion of co-operative farmers banks will bo procoeded with, but with more effective machinery than the Bill of last session contained. State Note Issue. , The Bill providing for a Stato-note issue in New Zealand, which was before Parliament last year, will be reintroduced. Anomalies exist in the First Division of the Eailway Department, and legislation will bo submitted providing for a more equitable classification of tho memI bers of that branch of the service. My Advisers hold that the ideal of onr education system should be to make it free from tho primary school to tho University, and proposals to give effect to this will be submitted. Special pro. vision will also be made for the development of agricultural colleges and experimental farms to equip onr present and future settlers with the best and most up-to-date scientific training. You will,. I feel confident, give the position of the Dominion and the several matters I have brought under your notice, together with tho measures that are to bo submitted, your earnest and careful consideration; and I trust that your labours and decisions may, wilh God's blessing, result in materially promoting tho prosperity, happiness, wellbeing, and lasting benefit of the people of New Zealand.