The Hastings Standard Published Daily SATURDAY, SEPT. 25, 1897. CURRENT TOPICS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 435, 25 September 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily SATURDAY, SEPT. 25, 1897. CURRENT TOPICS.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

This is a year of records, and everyone, from the Queen downwards, is putting up a record. The Governor's Speech at the opening of Parliament is a record. It is a record as to length and balderdash. The opening ceremony was in many respects a record. It is thfc first time that a Governor has driven to Parliament House in a four-in-hand. It is the first time that a Governor has donned the genuine Windsor uniform. The speech is a record in word tangles, and ideas and events are thrown together in quite a record style. For the first time in our Parliamentary history the expression Prime Minister is used in the Governor's speech ; it is a touch of Imperialism, and in a year when every Britisher is frothing.at the grandeur and magnitude of the Empire it is perhaps excusable that the first minister of the alleged " brightest gem in the British Crown" should, from motives of patriotism and Imperialism, desire to be spoken of and referred to as the Prime Minister. In England the Premiers were content to be called Premiers, but in their respective colonies "Prime Minister" sounds better, even if it is a bit high falutin'.

Let lis pass on to the Governor's speech. There is any quantity of wash dirt, but it will not pan out more than a few penny-weights. It may be likened to a rushing, gushing stream plenty of noise, plenty of sound, but no depth, It would have been a commendable act on jbhe part of His Excellency had he scored out half the speech and boiled down the residue until about a fourth of the whole remained. It is no use quarrelling. There it is, a record of length, verbiage and vanity. The reference to His Excellency's ar* rival and reception in the colony are admissible, but what was the necessity for padding this State document with an almost interminable screed about the Diamond Jubilee, the Jubilee contingent and the proposed invitation to the Duke of York'? Nor yet is it very necessary tfrit the pleasure jaunts of the in England should be recited,

The reference to the flood in this district is somewhat belated, but perhaps we ought to be pleased to know tha: ii« evoke J from all parts of the coloa/

expressions of regret and sympathy." "While the flood is mentioned in the Governor's speech no reference is made to the disaster to the " Tasmania" and the attendant loss of lives. Perhaps the omission was an oversight. But with respect to the floods it is decidedly good to hear that " the periodical recurrence of floods in these localities points to the necessity for adopting permanent remedial measures. Seeing the seriousness of the situation, the local authorities will no doubt give the matter their best attention, and it will be for Parliament to decide how far they shall be assisted by the State." There is nothing to clutch at in this. It is hopeful and nothing more. The Premiers' conference in Hobart last February is a venerable item of news.

The freight question is touched upon, but no mead of praise is given to the efforts of the Freight Reduction Committee, who after all are mainly responsible for bringing the shipping ring to their senses. The general reference to the export of produce and the necessity for fostering the dairy industry is good, but we must wait and see to what extent the Government is prepared to go in the matter. The beet sugar bonus is to be renewed and increased, but whether this colony will reap any benefit from such legislation is problematical. The experience of the past does not lead us to expect much. The useful fish yarn is revived. There is an abundance of fish in New Zealand waters ! What a discovery ! There is an abundance of lunatics in Mount View and Porirua, but that is not in the Governor's Speech. The fish in the ocean deep are to be the victims of legislation, and hapuka and cod and schnapper will in all probability be made amenable to the eight hours' system. The seals at the Macquarie Islands, unlike the deep sea fish, are to be protected, for which the said seals no doubt will be thankful.

The never ending banking legislation is not overlooked. The " generally expressed opinion " is to have a turn and bo crystalised or fossilised into an Act of Parliament. The directors are to receive a "shake up"; this probably means that the president of the Bank of New Zealand will be fired out to make room for a man in whom the public will have more confidence. We have generally expressed that opinion, and are naturally pleased to find that our opinion has had weight with the Government. While the Government is engaged with banking matters it would be as well if some action were taken to recall the defaced silver coin now in circulation, also to legislate in the direction of restricting the circulation of dirty bacilli-distributing, disease disseminating bank notes. T-he Private Benefit Societies are healthy and doing good work. The Commission to enquire into their affairs was merely a money spinning job. The guineas that Messrs Tregear, Fisher and Steward made over that little job was simply so much of the taxpayers' money wasted. We would not dare to say so did we not feel and believe that we are independent of parties.

The Bills promised are mainly those that did duty in previous speeches. The Referendum, Eight-hours, Usury, State Fire Insurance, Masters and Apprentices, and Local Government are all old friends. So also is the Old Age Pensions Bill, but this brood of Bills stand a precarious chance of passing into law. The Mining Bill, which has already been circulated, has been prepared by apprentices and is an abortion in law. It will have to be hacked about before it will be fit for inclusion in the Statute Book. The Drummers are to be relieved of paying toll, for which they will be duly thankful. The commercial travellers' tax we have always regarded as a spiteful and stupid thing, and we are heartily glad to see it wiped out. The question of dealing with juvenile depravity is to be considered, and after the revelations made in the Wellington Courts it is time some remedial measures were adopted.

Taken all round the speech may be said to be colorless, and compared with previous documents of the same nature it has the merit of promising very little. But the chief question now is, not what legislation will be passed, but whether or not the Government will be driven from the Treasury Benches. A political storm is anticipated, and from all accounts the trouble arises from within the Government. The session is expected to be a lively one, and in all probability a long one. At any rate if the Governor's "Speech is any criterion then we are quite safe in predicting that the House will not rise until some time in February next year.