The Dominion. SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1913. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1788, 28 June 1913, Page 4

The Dominion. SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1913. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The programme outlined for the session's work in his Excellency the Governor's Speech yesterday is a formidable one, ' and the Government will be fortunate indeed if it is able this year to dispose of even one-half of the many important matters touched on. Most of the current questions of pressing interest have found a place in the Speech, but it cannot be said that membors or the public have been afforded very much information as to the actual proposals of the Government in respect thereto. Ministers in this particular have followed precedent, but they have made a departure in presenting their programme in a simple business-like fashion, free from the superfluous embroidery with which the Continuous Ministry delighted to adorn its proposals, and which, on occasions, earned for it well-deserved ridicule. Thero is an absence, too, of any attempt to continue the practice of the preceding Governments of always endeavouring to include in the Governor's Speech some new proposal of a more or less sensational nature with the idea of keeping the public keyed up to the highest possible pitch of interest or anxiety as to "what was coming next." An unhealthy unrest has existed for years past as the result of tho mania of the Continuous Ministry for startling the public with ill-digested proposals of a more or less experimental nature, designed to serve party interests rather than national ends. A respite from this unsettling influence and a return to sound and straightforward business methods will be welcomed by all classes. Naturally, the question of land settlement, in its various phases, constitutes a leading feature of the Governor's Speech. It seems plain from the intentions disclosed that the Massey Government is going _to press forward with a definite policy of .settling, , not only the waste and unoccupied Crown and Native lands of the Dominion, but the unproductive private lands. In this connection we are glad to note a paragraph in tho Speech which promises Bills this session to provide for the more expeditious settling of Native lands and for tho rating of such lands. The de-' tails of tho measures will be available shortly, and it is unnecessary in the meantime to express any opinion as to the manner in which the Government proposes to attain the desired ends, but it is just as well that Ministers should clearly recognise that the country is heartily sick and tired of the methods of the past in dealing with the Native land question, and that deeds, not professions of good intentions, am expected from them. It i 3 worth noting in connection with the question of land settlement that a reference appears in his Excellency's Speech to the graduated land tax imposed by the Massey Government last year. Members of the Opposition in Parliament and their press supporters outside professed to be highly sccptical of the sincerity of the Government in increasing the graduated tax. The scoffers, however, are jinswered by the : intimation that "subdivision and settlement have been encouraged and accelerated" by the increased taxation on large estates. I It is not necessary here to recapitulate the list of measures which the Government proposes to place before Parliament during the next few months. The amendments of tho Conciliation and Arbitration Act will be awaited with particular interest; as will also the graduated income tax proposals, the amendment of the State Guaranteed Advances Act, and the new Law of Libel. The intention to give greater facilities for residents in the country districts to secure homes under the Workers' Dwellings Act will be a popular step certain to meet with general approval ; and the announcement that proposals will be introduced with a view to cheapening the cosfc of living will be even more widely hailed with satisfaction. One of the new policy features disclosed 'in the Speech is that designed to, improve the present method of communication in country districts' by means of branch railways. The departure indicated, of giving authority to groups of settlers to construct branch railways themselves, is one of very considerable importance, and may prove of great assistance in localities where settlers and local bodies are in a position to undertake the responsibility. Private enterprise in the .way of railway development has been throttled for many years in New Zealand, and in most cases for no good reason. Thero are, of course, occasions when it is against the public interest to permit private individuals to secure the control of railway communication; but on the other hand it is obviously to the advantage of the country in certain cases that, private enterprise in this direction should be encouraged and assisted.. In this district we have seen tho enormous benefit conferred on the whole countryside by those citizens who built the WellingtonManawatu railway and ran it so successfully.until the State exercised its right of purchase. The Government, however, under the scheme now brought forward, apparently propose to limit private railway ownership to branch lines which minimises any objection which might bo raised, and t is also promised that care will be taken to safeguard the public interest. When the details of the proposals are available opportunity will be afforded for judging their merits, but in tho meantime it is safe to say that, subject to proper restrictions, the general lines of policy foreshadowed give promise of a useful advance in the means of communication in tho settled country districts. Taking tho Governor's Speech as a whole it has served to emphasise the fact that the Government is determined. to press forward as rapidly as possible with its promised reforms. It remains to be Seen how far it will be hampered in giving effect to its intentions by the leaderless factions which at present constitute the Opposition.