THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2460, 22 June 1893, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

WELLINGTON, June 22. The fourth session of the eleventh Parliament of New Zealand was thiß day opened by tbe Governor, when His Excellency was pleased to make the following speeoh :—

Hon. Gknt__men of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,—

It gives mc great pleasure again to meet you in Parliament Resembled. Since last session I have been enabled to vi_it in succession the various centres of population and tbe principal provincial districts of the colony as Her Majesty's representative. I was everywhere received in the most loyal and cordial manner. In common with all visitors to New Zealand I have been struck with the charm and magnifence of her natural scenery, the more remarkable examples of wbich on account of their immense material value demand, I think, aome greater national care than has yet perhaps been bestowed upon them. I was also impressed with the generally prosperous and comfortable appearance of thesettlerß. I very greatly regret that death has recently deprived the colony of another very distinguished colonißt in the person of the late Premier, Mr John Ballance, This reßret is increased by the reflection that be died at a time of life when it mhrht only have been expeoted that hia marked abilities and high character would still for a number of years be available in the aervioeß of hie country. His death, wbioh ooonrred after a long illneßß, was undoubtedy hastened by 3ingle-minded devotion to public duty. It is satisfactory to note tbe widespread manifestation of sorrow and sympathy by which the people of this and neighbouring colonies have evinced tbeir deep feeling at the loss of so faithful a public servant. Once more lam able to congratulate you upon the buoyanoy oi tbe publio finances, the continued prosperity ot the country, and the soundness and marked improvement of the oolony's industries. Again, also, I am able to state that the provision made during last session for oarryi-g on tbe publio services has proved more than Sufficient. The publio accounts show a grosi surplus of revenue over expenditure, nnparalelled iv the history of the colony. The volume of onr exports, though slightly lesß m valne, owing to the fall in price of certain staple products, show by its larger bulk that the producing power of the country is Btill steadily growing. The influx of arrivals from the Mother Country and Australia has How assumed proportions which have put quite beyond doubt the complete termination of the long and discouraging exodus of our people. The di-tress unhappily prevailing in several of the neighboring colonies has lately been sufficiently acute to cause my advisers to take-steps to warn destitute persona from reeorting to N.Z. in search of employment though the number of •nob passengers arriving in New Zealand has been small. It must be remembered that our carefully restricted expenditure and the low prices of some of our produots limit to a certain extent the expanding power of the labor market. Tbe passing away of the recent disastrous monetary panic in Victoria New Sooth Walas, and Queensland may be expeoted to enable these colonies before very long to once more absorb tbeir own surplus labor. _ It is with satisfaction that I notioe that New Zeala.d has remained entirely unaffeoted by the extraordinary panio just mentioned, an escape wbioh affordß emphatic teßti- ] mony to the-farsight and prudence of our public and private finanoe during recent years, and is a high tribute to the thrift and industry of oar people, and the confidence they have in the resources of the colony. The returns to be laid before you by the Lands Department will show how satisfactory has been the rate of genuine Settlement duriDg tbe. past twelve month*, You will be invhed to give your most careful consideration to proposals dealing with the purchase of the Cheviot estate. My late Advisers acquired the property in tbe interest at once ot the public finance and tbe progress of settlement. It is tbe confident hope of my Advisers that the outcome of the purchase will be the euoceßßlul settlement of a considerable territory in tbe centre of a district hitherto as remarkable for tbe Bparsity of its population as for the attractions of its soil and climate. The estimates of revenue and expendi* tore will be laid before you. The estimates of expenditure'have been framed with Btriot regard to economy. The excess of receipts over the estimate under tbe Land and Income Tax Aot has provethat the expectations of my advisers were folly justified.

You will be asked to address yourselves, at an early period of the session, to tho important task of reforming the native land laws, the complicated nature of whioh has, in the opinion of my advisers, retarded the progress of settlement. Ministers are of opinion that this question must be grappled witb, and laws enacted which will place the rights of the nativcß and Europeans on a just and equitable baßiß. Though the purohase of native lands bae been carried on during the last two years at a much more rapid rate than during the period immediately preoeding,my advisers are of opinion that the time has arrived •when the large surplus areas of fertile land held by the native race should be used and occupiid in such a manner ac will add to the proauchveneas of the cXiy. To this end, bills will belaid before you so drafted as to provide all m-ona y ble safeguards for-the interests of tbe present owners of these .lands. In addition to this, my Advisers have come to tbe con cluaion that certain.areas of those native lands which have hitherto escaped the burden of local taxation should now be placed on the same footing as the holdings of European settlers. The improvement in the yield of our gold fields, upon which I congratulated yoa last year, has been further sustained

in marked contrast to the returns of so many recent years. Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,— On the advice of my Ministers, I have added to your numbers twelve gentlemen of approved character and capacity, and I trust that this addition to your numbers will [add weight to your deliberations, energy to your actions, and strength to your constitutional position. Gentlemen of the House of Repreten tatives, — Particulars will, in due course, be laid before you, showing you the results of traffic in all branches of tbe railways. You will be asked to assent to a Bill restoring to the representatives of the people a portion of the oontrol which they formerly possessed over this important possession of tbe nation. Tbe carrying on of public works during the last year has been notable for the success attending tbe system of co» operative contracts. The Department of Labour has • succeeded in dealing, with excellent effect, with congestion of the labor market wherever it has occurred. You will be asked again to consider tbe Electoral Bill; and to pass measures doaling with the extended jurisdiction of the Magistrate's and District Courts. Bills will also be placed before you dealing with municipal corporations and the placing of the banking institutions on sucb a basis as will afford greater financial security. The Conciliation and Arbitration Bill of last year has been revised, and will be laid before you at the earliest possible date, together witb a Bill in Eubstitotion for tbe Shops and Shop Assistants' Act. Several measures relating to the wage earners and workmen of the colony are ready for your consideration. Amongst these are bills to amend the law relating to shipping and seamen, to further secure the wages of workmen, to repeal and amend the conspiracy laws bearing on trades disputes, to deal with sweating contracts, to facilitate the collection of industrial statistics, and others. I ask you to give these matters your attention. I assure you of my earnest wish to aid your efforts for tbe well being ot this colony, and I pray that your labors may, with God's blessing, tend to promote the happiness and prosperity of the people of New Zealand.