THE H.B. TRIBUNE. FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1911. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 189, 28 July 1911, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1911. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The dreary, fatuous monotony of the Governor's speech is well up to the usual standard this .year. The preamble of twaddle which proceeds the brief announcement of the proposed new legislation is something closely approaching an insult to the intelligence of Parliament and the people. The Speech this year is probably no worse than on previous occasions, but we cannot escape a feeling of wonder that the Governor should be called upon to address a gathering of ordinary, intelligent beings upon the lines laid down for gubernational utterances. However, the “speech” is a time-honoured formality and the country must bear the affliction with fortitude and resignation. The programme of legislation provided is very much on the lines of the “New Zealand Times” forecast and unless the unforseen should happen the session will be a short one. As might reasonably' be expected under prevailing conditions the bulk of the proposed legislation consists of amendments to Acts which have reached the Statute Book by the slipshod methods so characteristic of recent Parliaments. Leaving amending Bills on one side, it may be taken that the outstanding measure of the whole programme is the Local Government Bill. A comprehensive measure dealing with this subject lias been a crying need for years past, but session after session has passed by without an honest effort being made to face the question. It may be taken with assurance that even now Government has no intention of tackling such a highly important question upon the eve of an election. But the introduction of tiie Bill this year will give the constituencies an opportunity to express their opinions and the men who can force local Government reform, coupled with the abolition of the Government grant system of carrying out public works, will perform a service of vital importance to the people of New Zealand. While Ministers are left to juggle with the public funds and members arc dependent upon post office and bridge grants for their political existence, we can never lift New Zealand from the slough of parochialism. The present Government, w’ill not deal with this question we nia.y be sure, but the reform must come in time. The proposal to put through a measure dealing with Town Planning is a good one, but it is not possible to deal fully with this question until the details of the Bill are available. If it aims at compelling proper air space and sanitary conditions it will go a long way towards promotion the health of our dwellings ami prevent the possibility of creating slums. The inhabitants of a town should not be made victims to the greed of landlords who crowd three houses upon sections which are only big enough to comfortably hold one. Now is the time to grapple with this question ; each year we defer action will make the task harder. It will be noticed that it is proposed to make* amendments to some of the Labour laws, and it is sincerely to be hoped that no further penalising instructions will be forced upon the industrial world. We have had enough labour legislation to last us for many a year to come. The amendment of the Native* Land Act may prove beneficial but particulars are not yet. available. Time, however, will show whether the session just opened will be productive of good for the Dominion.