OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9140, 12 June 1891, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS,

(Fun United pßEte Association.)

Wkllinoton, Juno 11. The eeoond session of the eleventh Parliament of New Zealand was opened at 2 30 this afternoon by [tbe Governor in person. The usual ceremonies were observed on the occasion and punctually at the appointed tima his Excellency entered tho LegislativeCounoil Chamber accompanied by the consuls for Germany, trance, Sweden and Norway, Portugal, and Italy. Lady Onslow and her daughters were present, and both floor and gallery were crowded, principally with ladies. Thero were 13 members of tho, Upper House, and 45 of the Lower tr.senf, including all Ministers. The weathen which was rather threatening in the morning, remained fine. The following is the Speech which was read by his Excellency:— Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council [and Gentlemen of the House op Repbesektatives,— Ib gives me much pleasure to meet you in Parliament assembled. I have been much gratified during the autumn months of this year to meet in many places numerous gatherings of our fellow subjeota of the Maori race. The reception in all cases accorded to me as her Majesty's representative was such as I oan recall with unmixed satisfaction. la partioular I was glad to be able to traverse portions of the country of the Uriwera tribe, hitherto so seldom visited by Europeans. There the welcome given to me by no means fell Bhort in cordiality of that bestowed upon me elsewhere, and left upon me the 'pleasant impre6sion that this famous tribe has now, at any rate, ceased to be dangerously committed by the persistent desire for isolation attributed to them for many years past. I am able, upon the whole, to congratulate you upon tho continued evidences of the soundness of the colony's financial position, and the substantial progress made by its chief in> dustries. The provision made during the session of 189 C for carrying on the public services has proved more than sufficient. The elasticity of the colony's resources hat been again shown by a further increase in tht already remarkable volume of our exports. This has now attained dimensions sufficient to con' vince the most apprehensive that the resonrcei of New Zealand are far more than sufficient for the fulfilment of all her obligations. At the same time, my Ministers think it would be t mistake to ignore the unfortunate exodus ol population from our shores to the neighbouring colonies, which still goes on without abatement The returns of the census now in course oi completion, satisfactory and encouraging ai they are in most respects, appear to show thai a Btream of emigration, constant though noi large, has continued to flow from these island! to Australia. My Ministers consider that this strange phenomenon—for such it must be con sidered—in so young and richly endowed s coantry as this, is well worthy both of systematii investigation aud of the application and peree^ vering use of rational remedies. The alienation of the waste lands of thi Crown has been going on during the last IS months at a rapid rate. My Ministers, however are of opinion that forsomeyears past the amoun of actual settlement effected has not been quiti commensurate with tbe somewhat large area o land disposed of. While it is doubtless trui that a number of genuine settlers have takei up land, it seems alto unfortunately to be th< case that in many instances selection, instead o: bringing about occupation and cultivation, ha only meant acquisition for speculative purpose or additions to estates already sufficiently if no indeed injuriously large. Amendments in thi land laws, designed rigidly to reserve the re maiuder of our (Jrown lauds for genuine occupa tion and improvement, will therefore be lai< before you. My Advisers propose that thi utility ef this legislation shall be augmented bregulations designed and administered with thi view of planting and increasing a number o small but thriving occupiers upon the soil. M' Advisers are convinced that improved ani vigorous methods of settling the waste lands o: the Crown, however necessary and valuable, di not by any means comprise the whole scope o the work of settlement. Side by side with thi opening up of Crown lands should go the acqui sition of portions of the vast tracts still held b' the Native tribes of tho North Island. More over, the time seems to be approaching whei the immense task of repurchasing parts of thi large private estates, which now bar settlemen in some of the most fertile parts of the colony must be entered upon, and undertaken witl caution, justice, and discrimiaation. During the recess a Royal commission, com posed of gentlemen of long special experiena of the customs and opinions of the Native race has carefully investigated the work of the com plicated, costly, and cumbrous array of laws whicl bas for so many years rather hindered thai advanced the course of dealing with and settle ment upon Maori tribal lands. Tho full am interesting report prepared by the commis nioners will bo laid before you, and you will bi invited to give your assent to laws carefulb framed to further the undoubted desire of thi great majority of the Native owners to disposi of their superfluous lands on fair terms. I have observed with regret that the past yea has been marked by a distinct discouragini decline in the yield of our goldfields. Duri&j the last three months, however, the mmm; returns indicate a considerable improvement. It is very gratifying to find that the outpu from the several coal mines of the colony I steadily increasing, and has afctaiued an amoun hitherto unknown in the colony. With tb.ii increased output from our own coal mines, then is a corresponding decrease in the quantity of coa imported. Proposals for promoting the develop ment of the mining industries of the colon] by legislation and other means will be sub mitted to you. In accordance with tbe decision arrived at b; the late Parliament, three delegates from thii colony attended the National Australasian Con vention, held at Sydney in the months of Marcl and April last. The Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson Sir George Grey, X.C.8., and Captain Russel were accredited for that purpose. The officia record of the proceedings of the Conventioi will be laid before you. At the Postal Conference held at Sydne; about the same time this colony was represented bj the Fostmaster-general. Honourable Gentlemen of the Lesislativi Council, — I deeply regret that within a period of a ver; few months your Council has been deprived b] death of three much-esteemed members. One of these—your late Speaker (Sir W. Fitzuerbert —had completed a public career of more thai ordinary length and distinction. Gentlemen of the House of Bemiesenta tites,— The estimates of revenue and expenditun will be laid before you. The estimates of expenditure have been framed with a due regard t< economy. In continuance of the work of retrenchmeni begun in 1886, and carried on by the last Parlia ment, my Ministers have not hesitated tc reduce the cost of their different departments where this could be fairly and prudently done. In this .way substantial . savings have been effected, the details of which you will, as a matter of course, have every opportunity to discuss. My Ministers aro of opinion that the time has come for effecting a bold reform of the chief part of the direct taxation as now levied, and bills have been prepared for this purpose. In these proposals, however, my advisers have studiously borne in mind that financial changes should, as a matter of expediency, be made gradually, so as neither to shake the publio sense of security nor to run a risk of any loss of revenue. Hon. Gentlemen of the Leoislatitb Council and Gentlemen of the House of Refbesentatives, — A measure will be submitted to you providing for the 'reform of the Legislative Council in a manner which my advisers believe will be found to be in accord with public expectation. It will be in your recollection that some time since the Imperial Government invited this colony to enter into an arrangement by which the rate of postage to Europe would be reduced to 2id per letter. The late Parliament signified its wish that this arrangement should be made, and this has accordingly been done, with most satisfactory results. Following on this, you will be asked to assent to a still more important postal change, which, it is thought, will be acceptable to all sections of the community. Returns will be laid befora you containing information of the results of all branches of traffic upou the railways. These will present one or two features calling for your special attention. There aro now ready for your consideration bills for consolidating and amending the law relating to electors and elections, and for completing the abolition of plural voting; for classifying and improving the ciril service; for amending the law affecting gold mining, and the working of our coal fields; for altering and consolidating the law of bankruptcy; for defining the law of libel; for amending the laws relating to companies and to juries; for fixing the liability of promoters and the directors of companies; and for coDsoliJatiug and codifying the criminal law, as well as other bills dealing with matters of public interest. These bills will shortly be placed before you. My Advisers propose to prosecute with zeal the construction of reproductive public works out of such moneys as are or may become available for the purpose. In letting contracts for public works, my Advisers intend to discourage the practice known as sub-contracting, and they propose to encourage, as far as possible, the association of workmen on the co-operative principle. In the session of last year a number of bills dealing with matters referred to ia the report of tho Sweating Commission, and with other matters of special interest to employers avid employes were introduced, but only one passed into U\v. My Advisers propose to ogam introduce these bills with certain amendments, and will ask you to give them your earliest and most careful consideration. In addition to these, another bill, providing for the establishment of

boards of conciliation and courts of aibitration, to deal with industrial dispute?, has been prepared, and will be laid b. fore you. My Advisers bblieve that a measure of this nature is earnestly desired by thoughtful observers of the many arid undiminisbing difficulties which beset the relations of labour and capital. I commend these matters to your attention.

I assure you of my heartfelt wish to aid your efforts to further the interests of the country, and I pray that your labours may have the blessing of God and promote the happiness and welfare of the people of New Zealand.