THE OPENING SPEECH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1490, 5 June 1880, Page 12

THE OPENING SPEECH.

Wellington, May 28th, Parliament was opened at 2 o'clock l>y the Governor in person. The attendance of members was very small in both Houses. Honourable Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen op the House of Repbe sentatlvks,— In accordance with what was understood to be the wish of both branches of the Legislature, I have called you together at an earlier period of the year than usual, and after an interval of little inoie than five months since the last sepsion of Parliament, When I last met you tho country was suffering from severe monetary pressure, and a general depression in various branches of industry and trade. It is satisfactory for me to be able on the present occasion to congratulate you on tho partial relief which has been exporieucad, and on the degree of confidence which has been revived by an abundaut harve3t, and by the increased value of most of the staple products of the country. At the same time tbe condition of the Colony demands your careful consideration. I regret to state there should be a considerable amount of distress among the working clasßes. I trust and believe r, f'iißf 'iiB may be only of a temporary character, It in engaging the serious attention of my Goverriiiu nt, who have taken steps for inquiring into tho means beat calculated to encourage diich local industiies as will afford steady and remunerative employment to the people. Iv accordance with the decision of the Legislature, I appoiuted a, Royal Couimisßinn to inquire into the alleged grievances of a portion of the Native race in reapect to their lands on the West Coast of tbe North Island. The reports* and recommendations of that Cwnmifsion will be laid before you. 1 trust tbat the measures, at once firm and conciliatory, which have been adopted by my Government will issue in a peraaauent and satisfactory settlement of tho difficulties which have arisen in that part of the Colony. Tho determination which has been shown to redreau pnevaEces wheie they may bo provrd to exist, »nd ivt the same time to assert tho supremacy of the Crown, cannot bu* favourably affoet our relations with. ! the whole Maori race. Steps which nhould be | taken for the defence of tho harboura of the ' Colony have been carefully coiißideiod and f^bly R'poired on by (JoLjiihl Buraichloy. an fcxperr-noed fflio-T of iho 1t0y.4 Ep'ineu'rs. 'You will be aiked to uouaulor the ex- ' tent to which it will be advisable to give ' effect to hib suggestions

Gentlemen of the House of Reprebenta,

TIVES,— Carefully-prepared estimates of the revenue and expenditure for the ensuing 12 months will be laid before you. The facts elioited by Commissioners whom I bave appointed to inquire iuto the present position of the Civil Servico will, I have no doubt, assist my responsible advisers in effecting substantial reductions in the cost of that service. I regret to have to announce to you that a falling off has taken place during the past financial period in almost all the principal items of revenue. While these may in some measure be attributed to temporary causes, it would be unwise to ignore the fact that prior to the existing depression there had been a time of extraordinary inflation, consequent upon the expenditure of large sums of borrowed money. With the les3en. ing of the abnormal influx of foreign capital, the country must look for a diminution in the rate of progress it has recently been accustomed to, both in respect of its ordinary and territorial revenue. In these circumstances my advisers entertain no doubt as to the course to be puraued. Expenditure must be decreased ; luxuries must be curtailed ; the public works which have already been constructed must be made more reproductive : it is to industry and economy that the Colony has to look for a development of its resources and the maintenance of healthy progress. You will be asked to consider a plan which it is believed will place the finances of the local bodies on a satisfactory basis, and will enable those bodies to carry on their works in a self-reliant and independent manner, Honourable Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— At a time when it is indispensable that the closest attention should be bestowed upon the state of our finances, uppn the solution of questions of grave importance, upon the settlement of the waste I lands, and upon the general economy of administration, it is not the intention of my Government to ask you to devote a longer time to the work of legislation than will be required to complete the constitutional measures already initiated, and to deal with pressing questions of social and administrative reform, Bills will be presented to you for consolidating and amend, ing the licensing laws of the Colony, for placing the aominisiration of hospifal and charitable aid en a sound acd iutelligible basis, for completing the changes in the elep. toral law v,hich wtre commenced in the last session of Parliament, for readjusting the representation of the people, and for amending the laws affecting the dealing with Native lauds and the constitution of the Native Lands Court. The work of consolidating the statutes aa authorised by you has made considerable progress, and a number of bills, the result of the labours of the Commission, will also be placed before you. The necessity for revising the whole system of legal procedure now in force in the Supreme Court and in other courts of the Colony has forced itself upon the attention of my Government. The subject is too large to enter upon during the present session, but it is proposed to institute an inquiry with the view of preparing such measures of reforn^ as will render the administration of justice mere speedy and efficacious, as well as Jobs costly than at present. The work of opening up the waste lands of the Crown for settlement has been vigorously prosecuted, and blocks of land for occupation upon the deferred-payment and village- settlement systems _ bave been set aside over a large portion #of the { Colony. The desire which exists for Ihe occupation of land in small holdings exhibits a determination on the part of the people of the Colony to devote themselves steadily to the development of its resources. It is to be regretted that in some parts of the country land of this class has been bought on terms with which the purchasers have found it impossible to comply. The subject is under the careful consideration of my Government. I now leave you to the labours of the session. I have to assure you of my earnest desire to cooperate with your efforts to promote the welfare of the country, aud to express my hope that God's blessing may rest upon your deliberations.