PARLIAMENTARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4080, 19 August 1884, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. Wellington, This day. The first session of the ninth Parliament of New Zealand was this day opened by the Governor, Avhen His Excellency Avas pleased to make the folloAving speech : —

Honorable Geu/lennn of the Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House ofjle2)resentalives, — It affords mo much pleasure to meet you in Parliament assembled. I lurvehad recourse to your assistance, as soon as the arrangements consequent on the retirement of the 3 late Administration have permitted. My advisers arc of opinion that it is undesirable that questions of abstract policy should at present be dealt Avith further than circumstances render imperatively necessary, and that concentrated attention should be given to many urgent matters relating to the material economy and industrial interests of the colony. As far as time will allow it is proposed'to deal with such matters during this session. Great importance is to be attached to improving the industrial resources of the colony—prominent amongst which may be mentioned the mining interest, the promotion of settlement, and tho advancement of local productions and of manufactures. It is of the first consequence that the country should satisfactory and suflicicnt industries. The subject requires Aery careful and comprehensive treatment, and little in such direction can be effected through the Customs tariff, Avhich is already very high. The progress of public Avorks also demands attention. It will be necessary to consider carefully the position of those now in progress, Avith a vieAV to determining how they shall be proceeded Avith. It cannot prove* economical to construct Avorks in a manner so slow and fragmentary as to postpone indefinitely any return from the money expended. On the other hand the colony must be careful to restrain the exercise of its borrowing poAvers within reasonable limits. My Ministers consider that a great deal of the pressure which is brought to bear on a Government to construct works in unprofitable fragments arises through the fear that if Avorks arc delayed Parliamentary authority for them may be withdrawn, and are therefore of opinion that it Avould be expedient to determine that the public faith is pledged unless under very exceptional circumstances to the works which Parliament once sanctions. If this assurance be well understood, the various districts concerned will be contented to see Avorks carried on in a manner compatible with early returns from the expenditure. My Ministers "consider that great care should bo exercised with regard to extending existing engagements. Somo works already commenced require to be carried on vigorously, such, for example, as the Otago Central railway. The small length of lino required to connect Napier with Palmerston North should also receive early attention. The authority to continue tho Nelson lino to Roundoll should be extended to connecting Nelson with the line between the East and West Coasts of the Middle Island. The trunk system of the Island would then be nearly completed. Tho lino to connect the East and West Coasts of the Middle Island, to which I have just referred, is of great importance. My advisers will propose to you to endeavor in the first instance to procure its construction by aiding private enterprise There is every reason for believing that the West Coast of the Middle Island possesses mineral resources of enormous value; indeed, as regards coal and gold, tho existence of such ■resources under highly remunerative conditions has been proved. The proposed rpihvay will greatly benefit the district, but fir tho proper development of the capabilities of the West Coast other measures Avill be required Avhilst tbe railway works are iv progress. I commend the Avhole subject, to your earnest consideration. The completion of through railway communication between Auckland and Wellington is a colonial work of vast imporlunce, which must bo hastened to a conclusion with tho utmost possible expedition. It will be proposed to you to appoint a select commit tec to report which route it would be most expedient to adopt, and authority will be asked to Diablo the State to acquire extensive blocks of land along the lino of this railway. My advisers arc of opinion that lands adjacent to tins and other railways should be set apart for the settlement of a largo number of families, upon conditions calculated to ensure their prosperity, the area for each family being limited. , . , You will recognise that it is ot great moment the lands in the North Island that are now held by natives should bo let out to productive use as readily as possible, either by the natives themselves or by Europeans. It is therefore very desirable that the best means of enabling the natives to dispose of their lands when they desire to do so should bo adopted, but it will be useless to provide iaeWncry for the sale or leasing of native

lands unless the natives themselves are favorably inclined to make use of it. My Ministers therefore, whilst considering that the present svstcm has most objectionable features, propose to postpone final legislation on the subject until next session. A temporary Act may possibly bo necessary, but the object to be kept in view is to come to an understanding Avith the natives during the recess as to the plan Avhich, while not inconsistent with tho interests of the colony, will be most likely to lead to results satisfactory to the Maori race.

Plans will be submitted to you this session, if possible, for strengthening and improving the system of local government by giving to local bodies larger duties and an assured income. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— Estimates of revenue and expenditure will belaid bei'oreyou with theleastpossibledolay. My advisers arc of opinion that the present expenditure for departmental and other purposes may be considerably contracted. They consider it necessary to establish an equilibrium betAveen expenditure and receipts. They greatly object to the present Property Tax, and will propose its repeal at the earliest moment practicable. They are favorable to an equal and moderate Land Tax, deducting from tbe value of the land improvements and a reasonable amount of exemption. The results of such a tax should, as far as possible, be localised in accordance Avith the proposal to strengthen local government. Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — My Ministers consider that the present management of the colonial railways is open to much amendment. A measure Avill be submitted to you to provide for boards of management in the Middle island and_ in Auckland subject to Parliament retaining control over the tariff of charges. Your attention -will bo called to the expediency of. promoting trade and commercial relations Avith the South Sea Islands.

Amongst the measures to be brought before you will be bills to improve the conditions under which married Avomen may hold property, and to incorporate and place under adequate management the Life Insurance Department, Avith provisions for establishing local boards elected by the policy holders.

I commend to your most earnest attention tho large interests confided to you, and earnestly hope that, with the blessing of God, great advantages to the Colony may result from the discharge of your arduous duties.