A FORECAST OF THE SPEECH

Evening Star, Issue 7195, 25 April 1887, Page 2

A FORECAST OF THE SPEECH

[From Ode Own Correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, April 25.

Parliament will be opened by the Governor in person '-toiaonow. The'Post'to-night has the following*.—

So much interest ipJelt in the Speech which will be delivered on the opening of Parliament Jjhat our readers will be pleased if we give them ar'accnrate* foresight as we are able to do. There is no doubt that the Speech will mor*-or* less indicate the proposed nature of the proceedings in Parliament, and as political feeling throughout the Colony is very strong just now, more than usual interest is felt in the coming session We may feel certain that the Speech will becomingly refer: to .this being the Jubilee year of Her Majesty's accession to the throne. Besides the great rarity of the occasion, the event has. great significance to the colonies, as it is the year which has been selected to prove to tbem that they are no longer considered an insignificant part of the Empire. Parliament will probably be asked to consider whether it is desirable that special honor should be paid to the celebration.

Kindred reference must be made to the Colonial Conference. This is the firat instance of the central Government of the Empire admitting it to be either necessary or expedient to consult the Governments of the several colonies and dependencies. Whether or not any results will arise from the Conference it is impossible to say; bat it will be equally impossible for any colonial Government or Parliament to refuse to recognise a deaire to knit more closely together the bonds which hold this mighty Empire together.

Arising out of the same subject, it may be anticipated that reference will be made both to the naval defences of the Empire and the colonial local defences. Little is known on this subject, and it may be anticipated that interesting information will be forthcoming in due course.

Intercolonial matters, such as the Stock Conference held in Sydney, and the forthcoming Exhibition to be held at Melbourne to celebrate the Australian. Centenary, wUI find a place in the Speech. The rest of the Speech will no donbt be mainly devoted to local matters. Reference can hardly fail to be made to the plentiful grain harvest and to the rise in the price of wool. These topics, again, suggest that we shall be told that the success of the various plans for the promotion of settlement, and the great field for the extension of the same which will be opened by the acquisition of land on the line of the North Island Trunk Railway, are the subjects of hearty congratulation. The advantages of small farm settlements will, no doubt, be strongly put, as also the urgency of acquiring large estates for occupation where small holdings are not otherwise to be obtained. We may be certain that in connection with the subject of the prosperity of the Colony, attention will becalled to the need of encouraging its mining and other industries. The consideration of the House will be asked to the financial position,.and a reference can scarcely fail to be made to the desirability of limiting the expenditure. As regards Bills, we may anticipate that stress will be laid on the importance of the measure for adjusting the representation of the country. It is not likely that many Bills will be mentioned, as there is probably a desire not to lengthen the session beyond the limit which necessity demands. We I expect the attention of the House will be called to such subjeots as the reform of the Legislative Council, amendment of the criminal law, railway boards of advice, Government insurance, and Government loans to local bodies.

Without undertaking to say that we have given a precise rmuni ol the Speech, wa believe we have not travelled far out oi the course which it is likely to take. The situation is patent enough. The session must be a short one, because Parliament expires by effluxion of time in August. Meanwhile the most pressing questions are finance and representation.