Evening POst. TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1884.

Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 43, 19 August 1884, Page 2

Evening POst. TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1884.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. TnE Speech with which his Excellency the Governor opened Parliament, if unusually short, is decidedly practical. Evidently Ministers are not prepared to wear their hearts upon their sleeves for daws to peck at, but they havo shown that they very correctly estimate the position and requirements of tho colony, and are prepared to deal with them in a prudent and desirable manner. Wisely leaving over abstract questions for future discussion, Ministers show a determination to deal promptly with practical questions. They express every desire to encourage local industries, but we are glad to see that they admit this is not to be done through the Customs tariff. A policy of protection would have mot with our strenuous opposition. That the work of railway construction when once decided on and commenced should bo carried on vigorously we have always urged, and the determination expressed by Government to restrain tho exerciso of its borrowing powers within resonablo limits will reosure many minds. The announcement that the completion of the line from Napier through the Manawatu Gorge to connect with the West Coast and Wellington lines at Palmerston North is to receive early attention will bo specially welcome to all interested in the prosperity of Wellington, as must also be the determination expressed to push on the completion of the North Island Main Trunk railway. The report of a Select Committee on the rival routes proposed for the North Island railway will not bo objected to if an impartial Committee is appointed, while Ministers seem quito alivo to the importance of obtaining land for settlement along the line. Tho paragraph referring to native land legislation shows a commendable amount of prudence in dealing with a very difficult subject, and lays down principles which, if acted on, can scarcely fail to produce beneficial results. The present Ministry, liko its predecessors, professes adesire to bring expenditure within revenue. We hope they will be more successful than others have been in this direction. Evidently they contemplate a radical change in the method and incidence of taxation, by substituting a hind tax for the property tax. The announcement with regard to the formation of Railway Boards of Management contains nothing new, except the fact that Parliament is still to retain control over the tariff of charges. Evidently Sir Julius Vogel has some scheme in contemplation with regard to thojSouth Sea Islands trade. His previous speeches, indeed, indicated that he feels strongly regarding the importanceof this subject. The other matters mentioned do not call for any special remark. Altogether, the Speech should strengthen the position of the Ministry, for it indicates a liberal and progressive policy, free from any extreme radicalism or extravagance. Thero is little or nothing in it to which reasonable exception can be taken, except the quostion of taxation.