Evening Post. FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1893 THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Evening Post, Volume XLV, Issue 146, 23 June 1893, Page 2

Evening Post. FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1893 THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

j The Speech with whioh His Excellenoy opened Parliament yesterday presents few points calling for noti:o. The first paragraph is formal, the second, under tho oiroumstances, nnfortunately inevitable, and the third perhaps open to question in somo of its assertions, especially in regard to the marked improvement in the colony's industries. The next paragraph is mildly jubilant over tho surplus. With regard to the one following, a captious oritio might ask how the influx of now arrivals from abroad can bo regarded as affording proof that the exodus of our own people has completely terminated. It is a clumsy way of intimating that the balance is on tho sido of immigration over emigration. The reference to labour-seeking immigration from Australia would have beon more complete had the Government frankly confessed that it had made the mistake of inviting people to come here without boing able to find , work for thorn. The allusion to the financial orisis in Australia is perhaps permissible in its not over modest seffgratnlation, but the assertion as to the satisfactory progresss of genuine settlement requires some proof. The Cheviot purchase paragraph opens up a very debatable Bubject by assertions which will certainly induce much argument. Aa to the promised native land legislation, the sentiments enunoiated are of the most laudable character, but no groat importance need be attaohed to them until we sco the Bills which are to give effect to the policy indicated. The terms in which the addition of members to tho Legislative Connoil is announced are certainly the reverse of complimentary to the Council as previously constituted, and the testimony borne to the approved character and capacity of the new members ia decidedly amusing. If the word "colour" had been addud to the list of approved qualities, the alliteration would have been more

complete, and the truthfulness of the statement po»»ibly increased. The terms i n which the Premier anDounces his intention to restoro the railways to political control, aTo high-flown and untruthfully suggestive. Tho success of tho co-oporalivo public works scheme is certainly uot beyond dispute, and wo should liko to know what tho unemployed think of tho felicitations as to the success ot tho Deportment of Labour ''in dea l.in? with excellent effect with (ho congestion of tho labour market wherever it has occurred." Read in connection tho mpolinKS and interview reportod in those columns yesterday and tho day before, this paragraph is not wanting in grim satiro. There is nothing particularly new or striking in the legislative bill-of-fare promised, and to tho irreverent tho concluding paragraph might suggest a doubt as to uhother tho presont Parliament is not really past praj ing for.