THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 84, 6 October 1909, Page 8

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

DEFENCE CONFERENCE

The principal reference in the Speech will, of course, be to the recent Defence Conference in London. Parliament will be asked to ratify the proposals already outlined by the Prime Minister in respect to naval defence and the Government's intentions in regard to land defence will also be -dealt with. NEW LEGISLATION. It has already been announced by the Premier that Cabinet will ask Parliament to effect in our existing laws a number of amendments' found -necessary Ito facilitate either their smoother operation 'or a wider sphere of usefulness. The Government's chief desiro will probably be declared to be not to pass a large mass of new legislation, but to restrict efforts to improving and i perfecting the operation of existing measures.LAND, FINANCE AND NATIONAL ANNUHTES. " Self help must precede State help," is a doctrine laid down by the Prime Minister, and it is on this doctrine that two important measures to be introduced will be based. Those are the National' Annuities and Land Settlement' Finance Bills. Both have already v been before Parliament. The latter, as it appeared before, provides that five or more men without land and without the means of getting land, could acquire a limited area of freehold by the State's guarantee. The State would / merely guarantee the lender of the purchase money any deficiency wihich might arise under his security. The measure is regarded by Sir Joseph Ward as one which would be of immense importance in the promotion of the settlement of our land. As to the National Annuities or Provident scheme, the Government's attitude is expected to be that it may require modification in detail, but that the principle will be made law. It is designed to enable the people to make provision against sickness and accident, and also to provide for their old age. NATIVE LAND. The probable intentions of the Government in respect to native land legislation were explained in The Post on Monday. It is anticipated that reference will be made in the Speech to the evergrowing need of pushing on a* vigorous native land settlement policy. The consolidation of the mass of legislation affecting native areas over a long series of years will in itself mean a good deal, and the "new proposals for ensuring more speedy and satisfactory occupation of tlfese lands than has been the case in^ the past will be looked forward to witli no small amount of interest. Particular interest centres in the tenure that will be proposed. SUCCESSION DUTIES. It has been stated by Ministers on more than one occasion — and with special emphasis by the Hon. Dr. Findlay — that under the Succession Duties Act successful evasions, involving 'arge losses in revenue to the State, were talcing place. At present entailed estates escaped death duties, and it is the intention of the Government to endeavour to remove this and otlfer anomalies. ' It is bjelieved that the Government's proposals will be to revise the succession duties, for the purpose of preventing evasions, of requiring a widow succeeding to large estates to pay duty, of making entail estates liable to death duty, of distinguishing the rate of duty according to tho total amount of the estates to the nearness or remoteness in blood of the beneficiaries. BANKRUPTCY AND COMPANIES. Revision of the bankruptcy law as urged some months ago by a conference of chambers of commerce, will probably be proposed, also amendments of the Companies Act to provide inter alia for re-issue of debentures which have become hypothecated, and for better provision for the registration of all securities given by companies. • PRISON REFORM. The Speech will probably contain reference to the efforts at prison reform now being made under the direction of the Minister for Justice. To carry out some of his proposals certain amendments will be necessary, notably in regard to the treatment of habitual drunkards. HARBOURS CONTROL. The Harbours Amendment Bill will contain important proposals making extensive alterations in the existing method of election and constitution of harbour boards. The Bill has been drafted for some time, and a week or two ago was exhaustively discussed in camera by the New Zealand Harbours Conference. It is hardly likely that the Governmnt will forego its claim to have nominated repiesentativcs on the boards. OTHER MATTERS. Other prospective legislation includes amendments of the Friendly Societies' Act (among them being nrovisions for improving the financial soundness of societies and for giving more extensive powers of investment) j a measure to provide for the completion and equipment of railway lines in various parts of the Dominion where the people expressed their readiness to undertake such responsibilities in return for the work done ; improvements in tho Hos pital and Charitable Institutions Act ; removal of the doubt which arose as to the payment of teachers' salaries under the Act of last year ; proposals for the preservation of Crown forests ; alterations in the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act (notably as to the examination for the disease pneumoconiosis, of which so much was heard in the mining trouble), and in the Municipal Corporations, Destitute Persons, Habitual Drunkards, and Police Acts. AN ADJOURNMENT. Alt©? the readme of fche Jpeech, •>£

is expected that members o£ both Houses will formally meet in their resp.ective Chambers, and will pass resolutions of sympathy in connection with the death of the late Mr. A. E. "Remington, member for Rangitikei. An adjournment will then be made-, but whether till Friday or Monday has not yet been decided. It is stated that practically all departmental reports and returns are ready, and some may be expected to be placed before Parliament very early. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Following custom, it is fairly certain that Mr. Smith, the newly-elected member for Rangitikei, will move the Ad-dress-in-Reply in tho Hrfusb. It is not known who will second the Address ; and the mover and seconder of the Address in the Council will not be decided up.on till to-night. . SPEAKER OF THE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council will require to elect a Speaker. Tho election will be by nomination. The Hon. C. C. Bowen, unfesi. he declines to act, <s almost sure to be again appointed. Many members of both Chambers are already in Wellington. The Speaker of the House of Representatives (Hon. A. R. Guinness) arrived to-day, and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. W. F. Massey) is expected this afternoon. ■ There is so little room available that only wives of Ministers will be allowed on the floor of the Legislative Council Chamber to-morrow.