IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.—THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5949, 5 March 1881, Page 1 (Supplement)

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.—THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

The session of Parliament for 1881 was opened by Royal Commission on January oth. The following is the.Speech, which was read by the Lord Chancellor :—

My Lobds and Genti-emen, —I have called you; at a period earlier than usual, to the resumption of your labours, as some affairs of more than common urgency demand your ; attention. ,My relations ■•with Foreign Powers' continue to be friendly and harmonious. .The mauvquestion relating to the frontier between Turkey arid Montenegro;ha3 been settled. The Powers are now engaged in communications'which-have in .view the determination *of the frontier between Turkey and Greece.: Some important portions of the Treaty ©f-Berlin, which have so long remained without fulfilment, continue to form an object o£. my anxious attention. Arising in the Transvaal has recently iinpossd upon jae the 4uty : of

taking military measures, with a view to the prompt vindication of my-authority • and has of necessity set aside for the tima ,any plan for securing to the European settlers ' that! -; f oil control over their own local affairs:-without prejudice to the interests " bf^vfche natives, which I had been desumia to confer. -1 regret that the war in Baaato"2*.: Bfc^ continues, notwishstaadingithe efforts of the Cape Government A1 It would cause.me much satisfaction Hf a suitable occasion should present itself > for friendly action on iay part with a view to the restoration of peace.-r The '■- war iv Afghanistan has been brought tbr a close, and, with the exception of' tte Caniiahar :2 rCe T ' **; ooP, s have been recalled within *?®/.:fn4^'/ft??tiep.;-Tt-iH-.id:6t"myrinten--I°^ vat the occu Patioil :°f' Oandahar !? a i-7, 6 Permanently maintained^;; i but the still, unsettled condition of theobun--y', ?£?■: -ihe; J consequent difficulty of establishing^ a 1 Native Gqyerhment;4ave delayed for a time the Withdrawal'of the army from that position. . Papers-on the several subjects to which rhave'adverted, a. s- further correspondence!oii the Military Estimates "of:: India?'-wiU be presented to' you;;';* i'-; v-1 - -::- isr;-n.?il GENTiE^EK^oiF:'thb" BpusiL/oT^oM- , . KMONS,—,,. ... •" '; I ■■■'•'■'■■-■' lii .; The .estimates of \ r^s services "for the coming c year are in a;> forward^ state of preparation, and; will: be 'speedily' laid before you.- "..'■ .'.^'W-^ '.'"'[' 'i Mt Lords and GENTiBMEiTi-Xi .3'

..Theresas been a-gradual; though not very rapid, improvement in; the trade of the country,: and I am now able to entertain a more favourable expectation <3 the revenue for the yearthan I could form at its commencement. Theanticipation with which I last addressed iyou;:of a^great diminution of the distresanin; Ireland, owing- to an abundant harvest/ was i- realised ; but I grieve to state that the social condition of the .country has assumed an alarming character..! Agrarian crimes in general have multiplied far beyond. : the .experience ,of. r recent< years. Attempts upon life have" not grown-in the same proportion as other offences";^ i>ut I must- add that, efforts have, been^made for, personal protection, far. beyond all former precedent, by thefipolice, "under the of Othe I have to notice other evils -.yet', more widely spread;- -The; administration of justice;; has; been frustrated,, witi respect _to theße i ofFence^7thro,uglL,tiie impossibility of procuring evi(ience_'; uand an extended.system of- terror haa -thus been established ; in various parts' of' thetcountry, which has paralysed - almoßt^alike the exercise of jpriyate, rights,and the.performance of civil duties., In a state pf ;things new in • some ;•, important"-. "respects; and hence-with little of ..ayailable.Tguidance from former precedent,'lr.iavejdeemed it right steadily to? put in'flse'theorclinary powers of the law beforeimaking'any new demand. But a demonsj;ratio*n^of their insufficiency,-amply supplied, by, ttfe present circumstances of thei* country; leads me now to apprise you that -proposals will be immediately submitted to you for entrusting me with additional powers, necessary in my jjudgment. riot ,oiily for the vindication of order and'-pubHc law, but likewise to secure, on behalf lot my subjects, protection for life and property, and personal liberty of action, Subject to the^primary and imperious obligations to which I have just referred, I continue to desire not less than heretofora^to prosecute the removal of grievances and the work of legislative improvement in Ireland, as well as -in ' Great Britain. The Irish Land Act of 1870 has been productive of great benefits^ and has much contributed to the security and comparative wellbeing of the occupiers of the soil, without diminishing the value or disturbing the foundations of property. In some respects, however, and more particularly under the strain of recent and calamitous years,, the protection which it supplied has not been found sufficient, either in Ulster or the other provinces. I recommend you to undertake the further .development of its principles in a manner comformable to the special wants of Ireland, both as regards the relation of landlord and tenant, Jand with a view to. effective efforts for giving to a larger proportionjof the people by, purchase a permanent proprietary interest in the soil. This legislation will require the removal, for the purposes in view, of all obstacles arising out of limitations on the ownership of property with'a,due provision for the security of the; interests involved. A measure will be" submitted to you for. the establishment of county government in Ireland, founded npon representative principles, and framed with, the double aim of confirming popular control over expenditure, and of supplying a yet more seriouß want by-exte'riding the formationof habits of local self-govern-ment; Bills will be laid before: you for the Abolition of Corporal Punishment in the Army and In the Navy. You will bo asked to consider-measures for the further reform of the Law of Bankruptcy; for the Conservancy of Rivera and the Prevention pf Floods ", for revising" the constitution of endowed schools and hospitals in Scotland ; for the renewal of the Act which established secret voting ; and for repressing the corrupt practices of which in a limited number of towns there were lamentable "examples at; the last general election. I trust that your labours, which' will be even more than usually arduous, may be so guided by Divine Providence as to promote the iappineas of my people. ■ ';:- ••'-■■ "■-: :'■ on