THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 2754, 23 June 1894, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The usual criticism od rbe Governor's speech is that there is nothing in it, that ie is colorless, but that delivered on Friday strikes us as containing in the first plaoe a great deal of debateable matter and plenty of decided color. Ab to the foreign policy paragraphs we see no reason to alter our previously expressed opiniou that New Zealand baa nothing to gam, but very mnoh to lose by being 11 utilised " — rather an unhappy expression by the way — to manage and control Samoa. Tbe colony possesses neither the means nor the money for buoh aa enterprise, dor the power' to enforce the law it might desire to impose on the Samoans. Sir George Grey's theory that self govern* meot should be fostered in Samoa is muoh more reasonable. Coming to domestic matters the roseate oolor ib laid on mnoh more thickly tban the facts justify. To say that public and private indebtedness diminishes relatively to our numbers iB to say what is only a half truth. The intention apparently is to Buggest the idea tbat tbe burden of indebtedness is less felt beoause there are more to bear it, and taken in conjunction with previous declarations as to the attractive force of the polioy of the past three years tbe inference 6ought to be conveyed is that owing to gains by immigration the burden has been lightened. We believe that tbe exact contrary is the fact : tbat a large proportion of the new comers addel little to the power of the oolonißtß to pay, but on the other hand materially increased the demands on the ratepayers for eleemosynary aid, public and private. Then we are told " tbe energy and the courage of our colonists, and the re3onroeß of the country, have never been more clearly displayed. Thanks to this and to tbe prudenoe and success of tbe financial polioy sanctioned by the late Parliament, the volume of our products continue to increase, and our colony's credit stands preeminent in London." The first sentenoe is true enough, bat there is about as much connection between the finaaoial policy and the increase of tbe volume of production as there is between Goodwin Sands and Tenterden Steeple. What, we wonder, has tbe fiaanoial policy had to do with tbe development of tbe batter trade, or the increase in wool and frozen meat exports? Opponents might as well attribute to it the collapse of flax and the depression in wheat. Public securities are higher, due partly to the abnormally low price of money in London, aided, no doubt, by tbe faofc that for five or six seat 3s eat3t 3 no pubho loan has been put oq the market, and that New Zealand has not shared in tbe Australian collapse. Bat a high prioe for public securities ia not of great advantage, except so far as it is a proof of a desire on the part of the British capiSaliec to lend to colonists at a cheap rate, of whiob, unfortunately, there is not

much evidence just now. The promise of ' a forward policy in regard to tbe acquisition of native lands is more like bnsinesß, and there will, we think, be general agreement that time cannot be better devoted tban to tbe consideration of tbe native land question. ■> Tbe abolition of dealing in native lands by private individuals would get rid of many abuses, and if the Government can see their way to an active native land policy may well be approved. As to bills promised, maoy of them are old friends, and probably most 'of them will be passed into law this session. The programme a 6 a whole, however, is a programme fur a Parliament, and a good deal of projected legislation is bound to 1 amain untouohod when tbe time for prorogation comes.