The Governor's Speech.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2643, 28 August 1906, Page 5

The Governor's Speech.

A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW. ' Customary felicitations. Colony's beneficent prosperity continues. Cradles fuller than ever and population increasing rapidly. Details of the reciprocity treaty between New Zealand and Australia to be disclosed shortly. General Babington retires at tho end of the current term from his position as N.Z. Military Commandant, having declined a further engagement. Encouragement is to be given to settlers to learn scientific farming on practical lines in order to compete more favorably with outsiders Increased assistance is to be extended to the coal and gold mining industries. Methods not stated. Special endowments for old age pension and educational purposes are to be set aside. A special judge is to be appointed for the Arbitration Court to overtake the press of work. Anomalies in the labor laws are to be rectified. Workers' homes are being provided at Petone and Auckland, and will be erected elsewhere as required. Maternity homes will be available at all four large centres shortly. Civil Service classification and a systom of pensions are proposed. The question of universal State annuities on a contributing basis is mooted. Trade with the East, Canada and the United States is to be developed. Local government reform to simplify administration is promised. Customs reforms are deferred until after the Imperial Conference in London next year: The necessity for some kind of reform in the present land policy is suggested, but details of the proposals are withheld in the meantime. It is proposed, however, to bring unused Native areas into occupation. The system of auditing Government and public bodies' accounts is to bo improved ; the usefulness of the Tourist Department is to be extended ; completion of railways is to be vigorously prosecuted, and roads and telephones to outpost stttlements are to be provided.