THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15645, 26 June 1914, Page 8

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

WORK FOE THE SESSION. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. VIGOROUS WORKS POLICY. FAIR ALLOCATION OF MONEY. ELECTIVE COtJNpIL BILL. i [BT mKfiAML—fiFECUt bOKEKSPOSTOWT] ; , Weuhtotos, Thursday. I Parliament was opened with the usual ! ceremony this afternoon. The day, al-; i though somewhat overcast, was fine, and; the military display, which included a' | band, attracted a large number of people to the Parliament House grounds. ! The proceedings in the Legislative Council Chamber, in which the Governor j delivered his Speech, were similar to those ! in connection with previous opening ceremonies. As a result of tho retirement of so many members of the Legislative Council during the recess, the gathering of members of that chamber was much smaller than usual. There was a good attendance of members of the House of Repre-j sentativesu ! The Governor's Speech, which occupied twenty minutes in delivery, was listened to attentively. The Speech was as follows:— " fIOXOtIUBIB Gextlemex of THE LEGISLATIVE Council and GEXTL2UEK of the House op Represent Aims:— " It is with sincere pleasure that X again meet you in Parliament assembled. Daring the recess I have visited many parts of the Dominion and have noticed with pleasure the general contentment which obtains amongst all classes. The settlers ! engaged is pastoral and agricultural pur- j suite are prospering. Industries are flow- j ishing and the conditions of labour which j exist in the Dominion are in tho main { sufficient to provide reasonable comfort : i and happiness for the prudent worker. j ; It is gratifying to be able to icongratulate j you once more upon the remarkable pros- j parity of the country. Trade, » evi- i i denced by the Customs returns, has been ! unexampled. The value of the exports | from oar shores' has reached an unprece- ! dented height and tho imports represent I in money's worth an amount never before equalled. On every hand there are signs of advancement. | "The settlement of the land is progress- [ ing rapidly, . development is proceeding ! apace, and the Dominion is steadily becoming a country in which tie small holder predominates. "The intercourse which I have enjoyed with the people has served to confirm my j confidence in their loyalty to the throne and devotion to our most gracious reign"lt is fitting that I should mention the loss sustained by Her Royal Highness the i Princess Louisa in the - death of her has: lend, His Grace the Duke of Argyll. I cabled the condolences of my. Government and the people of New Zealand, and they have "S«a duly acknowledged. The Cook blinds Visit. "I bare recently visited tho Wands of the Cook Croup, which form part of the Dominion of ' Kew Zealand, , and was accompanied by the Hon. Dr. Posture, the Mmi»ter In charge of the administration j of the inlands- I am satisfied that the information obtained during my visit will j enable my Ministers to improve the con- I ditJons of tfeso of the Do-1 mipion. The measures to bo proposed j to yon by.my-GOVflrnment in ' relation to i education. were explained, and were re- j ceived with great satisfaction by the natives tbr^gbbul^tlierißlands; My Minis- I tets racognise tbe responsibility which the j .Government of the Dominion has assumed in regard to the islands, and have had ondej...tfek, tfoflsidfliation the legislation •! which has been enacted in past years. J Ihey propose to submit to you a measure .by which those laws will be recast, re-* vised, and consolidated. . The Epidemic. "It is with satisfaction that I am able to announce- that the smallpox epidemic which broke out in this Dominion last j year has been 'coped with successfully.'l •Every effort is being 'made to prevent tjio | recrudescence of this disease. j Oversets Hail Services. "The San Francisco mail service contract, which tenninated in March last, has been renewed for a period of five years from April 1, 1914. Provision has been made for a considerable redaction in the rate of -freight for -butter-to America by both the Vancouver and San Francisco routes,'and to meet the expected increased demand for space two larger steamers of improved design are to be placed in the service from December 51, 1915. Wireless Stations. "During the past year three new wireless telegraph stations have been established—two high-power stations, at Awanut and Awarua, and a low-power station at the Chatham Islands. freehold sad Settlement, " Under the land legislation of the last two sessions, full effect ts being given to the intention of Parliament. Tenants of Crown and settlement land have been enabled to acquire the fee simple of their holdings- The subdivision of privatelyowned estates is proceeding rapidly. The tenures of land, including land within mining districts, nave been improved, pastoral "tenant# have been granted the right to elect between accepting full valuation for improvements at the termination of existing licenses and a new license Over the whole or part of their runs at a revised rental, and in all parts of the country, 'closer settlement has been promoted. Special Road Districts. "Tho legislation authorising the constitution of special road districts, providing as it does for the expenditure oi moneys received from the lands upon the construction of road?, and' bridges, is much appreciated, and will be of great value to setters living in remote and isolated parts of the country. Progress oi Settlement. 'Hie Crown lands of the Dominion which still remain unoccupied are being surveyed and opened for selection as expeditiously as circumstances permit. During l! e 'ast fiuancial year there has been a grati ./Lng increase in the revenuo derived IroiC Crown lands and land for settlements estates, the amount received having .exceeded all previous records. Obituary. I deeply regret that sinco I last met you the Dominion has loot through death the valuable services of Sir William Russell, a member of the Legislative Council, and if Mr. George Lanrenson, member of Parliament for lyUclton. Last Year's Strike. "The dosing months of 1912 were marked by an industrial struggle which seriously menaced the trade ana prosperity

1 ■ ■'• 1 v ■* , /4, , ■ *■• r; [of the country. At the commencement' lof the. trouble scenes of violence, were ,fr<2i atently.' witnessed, and breaches of the law were of daily occurrence. ' But thanks ito the efficiency of • the permanent police I and to the admirable public , spirit .displayed by'citifcenii of the Dominion who proffered their services as foot and ! mounted special constables, peace and ! order. w?ra. speedily restored, the produce., |of the country was shipped without undue delay to markets of the world, and a state of industrial quirt re-established. i Seducing the Cost of Living. I " The problem of the cost of living has engaged the attention of my advisers during the recess, aid certain proposals relating to this question* will be placed before you for consideration, ! Cheaper Honey.

[ "When I last met you the conditions of the principal money markets of the world made it difficult to obtain financial assistance for public works and other services. lam pleased to bo able'to announce that during the last financial year circumstances combined to make money more plentiful, and my advisers were able to procure at/ reasonable ratee sums of money sufficient to 'meet the general requirements of the Dominion, besides arranging for the redemption, renewal, and conversion of maturing loans, raised in past' years. Beading the Back Blocks. "The completion of the Main Trunk line between Wellington and Auckland has tended to open up largo areas of native and Crown lands that -were lying unproductive. But to-day the settlers upon these and other lands in the Dominion, through want of adequate roads and rail wave, are working under disadvantageous conditions. My advisers are of opinion that no policy of land settlement is sound which docs not include a progressive system for road construction, and propose to submit for your consideration a measure which makes provision for the creation of satisfactory means of communication in isolated and lbadly toaded districts. | Vigorous Bail Policy. | " Further, the remarkable growth of settlement and the rapid expansion of the business of the country during recent years have convinced my Ministers of the necessity for a strong and vigorous policy of poll ic works construction ana speedy completion of the more important lines of railway now in progress. Tongaiiro national Park. "The Tongariro National Park, which lies half-way between Wellington and Auckland, comprising 62,300 acres, and containing within its boundaries interesting mountain scenery and other natural j attractions, can with very little expendi- ; tare be made one of thf most popular holiday resorts in the Dominion. In order that this object may be achieved it if intended to so alter the constitution of Uie present board as to provide for the inclusion of persons specially interested in the conservation of the natural beauties j of New Zealand.

Increasing Public Revenue. ** Mb. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House Or Rkprksextatjvm,—

"The Estimates for the year havo been framed with dno regard to economy, conpistent with efficiency, and will bo duly la id .before you. Notwithstanding the noDinclusion of the proceeds of land sales and tho loss of railway income, consequent on the dislocation of industries by tho strike and on the smallpox epidemic, the public revenue for the. past financial year has shown a substantial increase. Full information regarding the recent loan | transactions ,will be placed before you. | . Extension ot Hospitals. I "The ever-increasing demand on the part of tho public for treatment in our general -hospitals will entail additional expendituro upon buildings for the recoption of j patients and for the maintenance of patients admitted to theso institutions. Grants for Public Works. ' " It has been recognised for many years that iia system upon which subsidies have been paid and giants from tho pubbc funds have been, male to local bodies for development purposes, is objectionable, anbusinesslike, and uneconomical. A Bill will bo introduced containing provisions ; which it is hoped will ensure a fairer an ! portionmeni and a more carelS expenditure of theso public moneys. Elective Legislative Council. " Hosotoabu Gektusmex op tor Legislative Ootrscn, and Gentlemen op tub House to Representatives,—

"A Bill providing for the election of members of tho Legislative Council by the system of proportional representation ! in large electoral divisions was introduced i in the Legislative Council in the second I session of tho year 1912, but was then postponed by the Council for consideration in the following year. In tho samo session the House of Representatives passed resolutions affirming the necessity for reform of the Constitution in the direction proposed by that Bill. In the session of 1913 another Bill to the same effect, modified in gome of its provisions, was introdnced in the Legislative Council, but failed to obtain the approval of the Council. The Bill of 1913 will again be introduced during your present session in the Legislative Council.

At the commencement of the session of 1913 tho Legislative Council consisted of 42 members. On July 1, 1914, if no new appointments were now made, tho number of members of the Council would be reduced by effluxion of the terms of appointment and by death to 28, of whom seven hold appontmenta for life. It is therefore found necessary to make further present appointments, not only for tho purpose of passing into law the Bill reforming the constitution of the Council, but also for the due consideration of all legislation submitted to both Houses of Parliament. Inasmuch as the proposed change in the constitution has been postponed by the Legislative Council until the session immediately preceding a general election, my advisers, following the constitutional precedent of the Act by which the abolition of tho provinces was effected in the year 1875, now propose that the Legislative Council Act shall become law during the present session, but that its commencement shall be fiostponed until after the session of Pariament to be held in the year 1915.

Territorial Forces.

" During the past year the training of the land fores of the Dominion has made satisfactory progress. At the invitation of the government. General Sir lan Hamilton. Inspector-General of the . Overseas Forces, recently visited the Dominion and inspected t-very unit of the citizen army, and every cadet company. The units of the fie 1 d forces were assembled for their annual training, and his inspection in five camp 3 enabled bim to observe the organisation of the troops, the qualifications of the highor commanders and staffs, and the practice of the three ai'ms in field operations. The conduct of tho men of the citizen army, and oi tho cadets at the territorial camps at the cadet concentrations, and luring the journeys by rail and sea to and from the places of assembly was as a rule exemplary. Th© season was late, tho weather was generally unfavourable, yet, notwithstanding these disadvantageous conditions, tho spirit of the troops and cadets was all that could be desired, i and afforded a valuable testimony to the benefits of the training. The assembling of tie units of tho territorial forces in camp, and all cadet companies, for inspection at the feme time, taxed the organisation and Jidniinistrative machinery of the Defenco and Railway Departments, and it was only owing to the zeal and energy and unceasing hard work of those responsible for district and local arrangements, that it was rendered possible.

"The valuable criticisms and suggestions which the Inspector-General lias made, and the advice which ho has tendered, are receiving the consideration of the Government.

Kaval Defence.

" Tfys defence of the Pacific, a problem of great difficulty, has engrossed the attention of my advisers during the recess, and in accordance with a decision communicated to' you during your last session

of Parliament; "Captain Hall Thompson haS been appointed ,to act-as .-.adviser' to the Government on naval matters, and to command 'the training ship lent by the Admiralty. It is probable Ihait' during the forthcoming year a conference on naval affairs, b which the Goveniment of Nfe Zealand has rlrcadv been invited to. semi representatives, will be convened by the Imperial Government.

Improving the Hallways. ( " Seven months ago the present general manager of ; the Dominion Railways commenced his new duties. He since been engaged in inspecting the various railway lilies throughout the Dominion, and ib making himself conversant with the railway system and its workings. In the comprehensive report upon this, large State undertaking - which the general manager 4s preparing, <he «' making recommendations which if given ' effect to will make the railways of 'the country more /valuable .to the commercial community and more attractive ,to the travelling public. To early into effect the important works which must ba. undertaken to ensure the proper and safe working of tho railways of the Dominion, proposals will be submitted for your consideration,

The Board of Agriculture. » "In accordance with tho legislation of last session, ft Board of Agriculture has been constituted and has commenced its duties. The board consists of practical and experienced agriculturalists, and it is confidently expected that by its interest and advice the agricultural industry will be greatly benefited. Homes lor Country Workers. "Tl.c system of workers' homes has been extended to tho country districts. It is intended to submit legislation providing that the area of land attached to a worker's home shall in all such cases be regulated according to its quality or producing capacity; the object, of my advisers being to give as many workers as possible an opportunity of owning their own homes at. reasonable prices ana on easy terms, with land isurroundinar each home appropriate to the locality in which it is situated. ... The Education Bill. " The state of tho education system of the Dominion has " been * closely investigated by a Parliamentary committee and by the members of a commission, and as a result oi thfeir deliberations my. advisers have decided to lay before yon a Bill which, while improving the conditions of employment of teachers, alms also at effecting a general advance in the methods of education.

Prevention of Infantile Mortality. " The decrease of infantile mortality in New Zealand is most gratifying and fully justifies assistance being afforded by the j Government to the Society for the Health ! of Women and Children in its efforts to ' disseminate by its literature and by tho j training of nurses and midwives a wider knowledge of all that pertains to the successful rearing of infants. Distinguished Visitors. " the visit of a party of members of the Imperial Parliament to New Zealand during vour last session was welcomed by myself and my advisers, its evidencing the general desire in which I am well assured you join for closer association of I the Parliaments of tho Empire. My Ministers were enabled to confer with Lord Emmott. tire Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, who was chairman of the party of visitors, upon several questions which are of interest to both Governments.

"Early tin's year New Zealand welcomed at Auckland the tenth session of the Australasian Medical Congress. My advisers arc giving earnest consideration to the conclusions arrived at by the Congress. " During the present year the British Association will hold its meeting in Australia. It has been arranged that some of the distinguished scientific gentlemen attending that meeting shall afterwards visit New Zealand ana deliver addresses on their special subjects. ■ San Francisco Exhibition. "During next year a great Exhibition will be held at San Francisco, and this Dominion has been invited by the United States to take part in their national event. My (Minister* have made arrangements for the proper representation of New Zealand, and there is reason to believe that this country will as a result reap substantial commercial benefit. The Bible in Schools. "During the recess consideiatle discussion has taken placo upon two subjects, in respect of which it- is apparent that j public opinion is largely divided. Firstly, ! amendments of the licensing laws, and. secondly, the request that definite questions relating to Bible-reading in schools shall bo submitted to the electors by referendum at tho ensuing general election. You will have opportunity during the present session of arriving at a conclusion upon both issues. Bills to be Submitted. " Measures relating to the following further subjects have he'en prepared, and will be placed before you for consideration: — Inspection of machinery, masters and apprentices, motor regulation and license, tho iron and steel industry, tho fruitpreserving industry, inscription of loans, fire brigades tho law of libel, local authorities, local elections, rating, land laws, contractors and workmen's liens, puhlic servants' superannuation, the New Zealand University, the Victoria College Council, and other matters- .

" I commend all the matters to which I have referred to your careful consideration, and I trust that under divine providence your efforts to promote the happing and well being of tlie people of New Zealand may be successful."