STATE POLITICS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2167, 5 July 1922, Page 5

STATE POLITICS.

AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAMME. OUTLINED BY OPENING SPEECH. STIMULATING IN DUSTRY. [By Electric Cable—Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Tuesday. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 4. The first session of the new Parliament was opened to-day. The State Governor’s speech r’’erred to the unsettled economic conlitions and disorganisation of many great State industries and the necessity for adjusting capital and labour affairs to meet the situation. He stated the Government was determined to do its utmost to relieve the pressing weight of taxation, and also to relieve industrial conditions oy stimulating private enterprise and restoring on a sound basis both production ind trade. The measures promised included the amendment of the State industrial and arbitration laws and the repeal of the Profiteering Prevention and Fair Rents Acts, the promotion of immigration and the settlement of both Crown lands and private estates, together with a oolicy of decentralisation and providing railways between inland centres and the nearest ports; Die esctablish rent of marketing bureaux to deal with exportable products; improving living conditions of country dwellers and soldier rettlers; the employment of returned soldiers and sailors, and the continuation of the construction of the City railway. I’arlia r« cut will be given the opportunity of deciding the question of construction of the North Shore bridge. The taxation proposals Include superseding the super-tax by a more equitable system, as it is declared that the Fair Rents Act tends to limit building. EARLY CENSURE MOTION. (Received Wednesday, 2 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 4. In the Assembly, Mr Dooley moved a motion of censure on the Government on general grounds, with the object of enabling the Opposition to Insist on a wide discussion of the Government’s programme. PLANS IN VICTORIA AND QUEENSLAND. (Received Tuesday, 10.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, July 4. The State Parliament was opened to-day. The Governor’s spech referred to the State’s sound financial position and outlined legislation dealing with land settlement, combined with immigration, with an associated public works policy of railway construction and waterworks, with the object of opening up new land. (Received Tuesday, 10.30 p.m.) BRISBANE, July 4. At the opening of the Queensland State Parliament, the Governor’s speech stated that measures would be introduced providing for co-operation with the Commonwealth In its immigration scheme and settlement on a large scale of unoccupied land and development of the State’s resources, railway construction and the making available of over one million acres of Crown lands, embracing the construction of the Dawson River irrigation works, one of the largest in the world. The Health Act would be amended to enable infectious diseases to be effectively controlled. A bill would also be introduced authorising the acquisition of the Brisbane tramways by a trust, composed of members elected by local authorities and the Government.