THE SPEECH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 23, 27 July 1911, Page 7

THE SPEECH.

Members of the House of tteprercif tfttivw, headed by the Aetihst-Prime. Minister (Sir James Carroll), havine attended in i^ponso to the uaual mini* mona, His Excellency read th© 1 Speech from the Throne, which was as fol« lows :«« honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the Rdi«» of Representatives,— It affords me much picture to again meet you ni Parliament assembled. During the recess 1 have visited most of the larger centres of the Dominion and several of the outlying districts, fthd have made myself acquainted with th* people, My preconception regarding their loyalty to the Throne and their d * votion to our most gracious Sovereign, have been amply confirmed. This greatly enhanced the pleasure of my visit*, and; was most R'^fyins to me m the representative of ITis Majesty, and also tH-i> sonally, l I \t T K of Hi* Most GradoiM the Z2tid June with befitting «4i*immv, and the lo,\alty and enthusiasm d'&plaved not only in Grout Britain mid Ireland, but also throughout Hih Majesty's \ast Dominions, show that hm subjects far and wide reajurd him tm th> unworthy successor lo hia noble father, and that it is with infinite trust i.hey leave m his hatide the on«rotm and arduous twk o guiding the dealihiea of iMnpire through all the difficulties mid complications of domestic and international affairs. Congratulations wwa sent to His Majesty from the Government and tho people of New JSealftitd, and addresses were sent from the women of the Dominion and the Maori popuk. ! tion, 1 hese were most graciously rewived Mid acknowledged. To the people of New Zealand, in common with thteo of the other , oversea. Dominions, the ceremony was of unprecedented interest in View of the fact that His Majesty, «« P" ke ,°. { ■ C ?, t ' nWB ' 11 « h^ Yo^, wbh the Wet^f lus lllußtnoiiß line to visit every portion of tho Kmpire, An Imperial Conference o{ tho l'rimn Minietera of tho ovpfuea Dominion* and the representative* of the UritMi Cftbin^f, was summoned to meet in wondon. This «?onference Wa.>) attended by mv l»r;mn Ministef and tho Attofne.vlWral, Tho reeults of that confereiwo have bprn tunsb Sfttisfhcbory. and the details of ii<, ])U) . ceedings will lie placed bokne >ott. Tho claim made by the Uovernment v{ the United States of America against Iho Imperial Government, known «« jj o Wobater claim, has received cai-eiul «i. tenkon by the Prime Minister and tho Attorney-General, Your repreFentalivrs had ueveral conffttences with the Britwh Embassy in America, and also with tho Home Government in London, which have resulted in &n a-rrangemßnt bc> tween the Home Government end tho Government of this country, which thny consider completely satisfactory to tho interests of New Zealand. During the last twelve months <kath has ) i-effioved the Hoti. William Cower Smith, of the LegislatiV'fe Council, a gentleman who had earned for him#elf the €«teem and MspeeO of both brancha* of the Legislatttro. I am glad to be able to congratulet* you on, the continued prosperity of the Dominion, and on the increase in th« material well-being of, the people, «8« 8 evidenced by the returns and the reports of th« State u&rvicefl. The condi* tion of th« peopte genemlly ie much ,improved, contentment, and happiness ob. tarn evwtfwhere, wid tho outlook for our producers ftnd lor those engaged in manufacture, trade, and commerce i» encouraging. The faming inidustry, equally, with the other indttHriee of New Zea^wid, contirraeß to develop not only rapidly, but on a flrnrer basis than in the r»at • ifor Although live-stock product* »till form th© greatbnlk of our Gxporte, and wool eaflily »ainta.inß its position as th» most valuable of th«Be, $4h the Domih. ' ion is by no means bo dependent a* formerly upon,' the price of any, one staple. The doeer Bettletnent of ejftenßive tracts of country once grazed in Iscge areas is now reflected not only, in the increawd 'value, but also an the gjeaier diversity of our export* of fatm-prodtwe, the mosi noticeable feattma in this Iwalthy, change being theincreftsefr in. the produc* tion of lamb, butter, a.nd «heeee. Hay» ing in view the conditions, of the world's market* for the commoditreß that New Zealand export*, and *Ibo the probable efF««t of the competition of other eoun^ tries, my Advisers consider there is every; reaeoft to expect ft continuance, or ©m an aagmentatioii, of th© prosperity, which he« "lately characterised the trade and industry of the Dominion, During the past year my, Advisera have continued the work of assisting the eettlement of the country, by steadily, pursuing the construction of railways, roads, and bridges in various part* of the Dominion under the authorities granted by Parliament. The means of communication, in districts more demote- from the principal settlements have been appreciably im> proved by the formation »hd extension, of roads and tracks. More progress might have been made in this direction: but for the fact that during last the ( labour which was expected to be available for roadworks during the »ummer was to a larger extent tha-n usual absorbed in other industrial pursuit*, and waft not obtainable during the months most favourable for work in tho back« blocks. The professional gentleman selected by my Advisers to act «c Chief Electrical Engiheet in connection with the develop, ment of hydro-electric power has arrived- in the Dominion, and has entered upon his dirties with ah energy ahd enthusiasm which encourages the hope that thefiret large scheme to be undertaken will, within a reasonable period, be in operation, Mnch valuable investigation in connection, with this undertaking has been acc»tfnplish<»d by the Assistant Electrical Engineer, who was in charge for a short trnw pending the arrival of the principal TOwlTiOftl Encjiuepf from tCnttland, Tho Miivry work in rnnmvtion with the important scheme for the irviaatton of a large ar^a of niiitobie Ja-nd in ths Ida Valley, Central pt^o, Jia* beea

«cfflapleted. and my responsible Ad-vieera a«ro now in a position to enter into con- *, tracts lor the, supply of water to tho lftnd-ownere, hi accordance with tho provisions of the authorising legislation u&ssed during lartt session of Parliament. The Last Chance Water-race, originally constructed and used for many yeais ifi connection with mining operations, has been acquired by tho Government on favourable terms, and it, i* proposed fco utilise the race as a source of supply for the irrigation of considerable areas of land at Bald Hill. Earnscleugh J?ia?., ', and tile intervening country, Other irrigation schemes presenting favourable features are receiving careful attention. The output of gold and stiver from our mine* shows a. slight decline, but this is more than compensated for by the increase in the output of coal, whicn *of the first time has reached over 2,000,000 ton?. The mining industry produced minerals during the year to the toti»l value of 6vef £3.750,000, and since the Commencement of mining tfithin the Dominion 1 wealth to the - value- of over £111,000.000 has been won. ;ln regard to the labour market, I am informed that the outlook for the immediate future is Very promising in- 1 deed. Although we are- well into the winter, the applications for employment at the various bureaux of labour have been fewer than for many years past. -■Great interest has been taken in the Workers' Dwellings Act passed last session, under which workers in any part cf New Zealand ate now enabled id apply for the purchase of residences ©n payment "of 'a, .small deposit of £10, tile balance being payable in easy instalments coV.eTing twenty-five years and a-half, In response to the large number" of applications received, arrangements have already been cotnpletec! for the erection of a number of dwellings. -To ascertain, whether- a scheme' for in« tflfrance against unemployment shoitld ' tj§ adopted in New Zealand, enquiries ape being made into -the various schemes flSrmul»ted by Great Britain and other countries^jof jEurppe. and the intention o?"ln"e"(Tov'ernmerrt will be announced to #Btt later. , ;• In pursuance of the recommendations if- Lord and in accordance ■With "the general Scheme *of defence, a. • of the Ddfeaoe Forces has Men appomfced. and rhy Advisers have IJSen lortaitiatjft In; „ securing the services di; so eminent a military expert as MajorGeneral Godley. • . Z"X .am gla<S to be able to announce that, (Meter the tfW systerft'of ■universal training brought into operation by the Defence, 4ictsf,;yoirtli»,b6twesen-tli6 age* of fourteen and twr.em'y-ofle have been regisiereel, and are, now being medically ex.-am-inefl'fof setvicfc in the Senior Cadets and Territorial Forces of the Dominion. Tile r results of registration have been' Satisfactory, antfc the spirit in which this call on the patfiotipm and sen?e of duty of the people has .been met is highly commendable. ;, The t youths, registered will be Pc-sted to various units of the Forced and i't^'W confidently expected . tliat^the. scheme adopted for the- training, clothing, and .equipping of the new Force thus brought "into existence for the defence of the Dominion will very shortly be in full work' Mg order. Apart- from ths military aspect of the movement, and even if out men aro never reqttired to arm in defence of their country, the physical training^ of onr youths should produce a marked improvement in the discipline, efficiency, and physique of lhe«ciiizens of New Zealand. •The flf?t of the trami»tf-eanip"s tinder the new scheme was established at Tau* heremfovu, aim ptoved most successful. Iri.^onfleefioii with, this a leport by the Director of Military Training will be duly placed b*for& yot; a% a*, appendix to the annual report of the General Officer Commanding. 1 am lrn-ppy to congratulate you upon the launching of the Dreadnought New Zealand, which took place at Glaegc-w on the first day of this month in the presence of a very large /lumber of spec tators. The revision of the existing prison system is progressing steadily, and a Prisons' Board' hns been set up under the legislation of last session. A report of the operations of the board will be furnished' Hi dtie course. My Advisers have completed arrangement^ on satisfaetory i term^ for the establishment of a mail service between New Zsatand and Canada via Mji and Hawaii. The service from New Zealand -will commence on the 4th AugUßt nest, and from Canada on the 6th September. The result of the last census is most gratifying, the population having increased to over one million, exclusive of Maoris, '/lie Maori population shows an increase of over two tliotienrld. Exclusive of Maoris, the increase since the census of 1006 is 110,829. The estimated population to the 81st March. 191 1, wcv'i 1.006,757. a. difference of only 16-50 from the constis population of two days later, which must be considered as ft Vety HoF-e ,es>tkriate. Tile estimated increase by birbiiK during the five years Mntio 1906 wa* SO,JSG7. and the increase /jy immigration 90,712. Tho arrivals in the J)ominion ftave been largely in eX* ce?e of the ticparhtrefl, _ The Repre£oHfca.(i6n Commission to-de-limit the bottrtda-fies of the electorates on the batis oi 1 the population ptatistics revealed by tho census is sitting, and ihe result of its labours will be duly jplaeed before you. My Ministers have continued their policy of granting assistance towards llie paymattb of fjassagee of farm labourera and domestic workera from the United Kingdom, and during tho year the number of persons thas assisted amounted to 2624. By arrangements' .made with the shipping compaaies trading to the Dominion, young Women domestic workers were enabled t& obtain, passages at & mttch-rettuced rate, and in* clmled in the number mentioned above .there are 831 of these workers. The demand for land for closer settlement still continues, and under the Land for Settlement Act every endeavour is being made to acquire land for this purpose. The areas, however, that are suitable ' and that can bo secured at a reasonable price are becoming restricted. On the- other hand, under the Land Settlement Finance Act very satisfactory progress is being made, and as time goes on it is expected that the provisions of" this. Act will be more largely taken advantage of. The general benefit arising from recent legislation affecting native lands is now being" felt. In all parts of the Do- I minion the natives show a strong desire j to bring .themselves into touch with j closer settlement. ' They" are using the iHachijiery ,of tho'.. Native Land Court. | and Boards freely for the adjustment of their titles ana the disposal of their lands. .The Native Land Pttrchagfe Board has acquired a considerable area oi land, which will be further augmented us soon as the necessary surveys and valuations now being pushed on vigorously are completed. Tlie fecont ronierenue oi' hospital authorities, and the tone ot the discussions . on the various- important problems with which Ihe Hospital Boards are con-fronted,-show that they ale very much tflive< to the need for a general extension^ of our hospital system— in tho di* tectioa of the prevention as well as the cure of disease. The decisions arrived at by tho conference were, baaed on an intimate knowledge of the 'needs of -the Dominion, and my advisers are giving them careful consideration. The commission appointed under the Gaining Arnsndm^nt Act »( lu&t sesftioti, tTie vommifision appointed lo enquifS into the route of the North Auckland Main Trunk railway, and the com-

mission appointed under the Waiapoi Reserve Act have concluded their enquiries and submitted their reports. These will be placed before you in due course. Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of- thei Hou«e of Representatives,— The estimates of the revenue and expenditure for the year will be placed before you. They have been prepased with due regard to economy consistent with efficiency. The revenue for the past year exceeded the estimate, and shown an increase upon that for the previous financial year. lam therefore pleased to say that the 'year's transactions have resulted in a substantial surplus. The post-audit system has been introduced and is working smoothly and satisfactorily, and is decidedly conducive to prompter payment. The National Provident Fund Act of last session is now in operation, placing within easy reach of our people the means of lightening the burdens of maternity, as well as protecting the young family and ensuring independence in , old age. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the Hotiee of Representatives: — For some considerable time no substantial amendment has been made in the law relating to persons of unsound j mind, and legislation dealing with mentally defective persons needing oversight, care, and control will bo submitted to you. A Bill amending the Native Land Act, 1909, will be submitted for your consideration. It will deal with various matters that have been noted in practice during' the period since the Act caifle- into operation. Bills effecting an improvement in -the existing law will be submitted to you in respect to Workers' Compensation, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration, i and Wages Protection. A measure dealing with the important question of town-planning will bo submitted for your consideration. j' The^ question of the eradication of noxious Weeds has become one of vital im- ! portaflt'fl. Something may tm done tt> minimise the evil by regulating the sale of seeds, ■ and a, Bill dealing with the matter will be introduced. | The Administration Act, tile Births and Deaths Registration Act, the Marriage- Act, the Pharmacy Act, the »ShipI ping and 4 Seamen Acts, and the Mining Act require amendment in many important details, and measures for that purpose will be submitted for your con- • eideration. f Bills will also be introduced dealing with Loans to Local Bodies, Local Government, Patento, Designs, and Trademarks, the Registration of Plumbers, the Sale of Poieofls, and other important matters. ' In-view of the lengthy session of last sear arid the large amount of important legislation which was then passed, my .Advisers are of opinion that this session ' may be a comparatively short one, in order, that ths general election may be completed afl early as possible. Commending the proposals of my Ministers to your earnest attention, I pray that, with the blessing of Almighty God, I the results of your labours may be for the good of the Empire and of lasting benefit to the people of New Zealand.