The Patea Mail. Established 1875. Be Just, and Fear Not. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Patea Mail, Volume XII, Issue 12, 14 May 1886, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. Be Just, and Fear Not. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The “ speech from tlio throne, ” delivered yesterday, and which our town readers were supplied with last evening, is of a more than ordinarily uninteresting character. The peculiar ambiguity common to everything emanating from the present Government pervades every line of the address, while the total absence of anything approaching a hint of the future policy of the Grovernment is the main characteristic of the speech, the longest paragraph in the address being dedicated to “ the usual loyal toasts.” Public works are disposed of in six lines,, the only information granted on the subject being that they will be “ continued on a scale consistant with the circumstances of the colony.” From the diverse nature of the opinions lately expressed as to the “circumstances of the colony,” it is somewhat difficult to arrive at the probable “ scale ’. upon which public works are likely to be carried on. Depression is referred i o as affecting the colony “much less than other countries,” The importance of keeping down the expenditure to the lowest limit “ consistent with meeting the requirements of the public service, and the wants of the country is fully recognised. The powers of local bodies are to be enlarged in the direction of managing their own affairs. Although the Government virtually own up to having no policy whatever of their own, the only reference to a policy which is made in the address will no doubt receive universal endorsement evep though the Government, to prepare such a policy has apparently yet to be formed, as the speech in no way infers that such a policy is one proposed by the present Government.. No doubt the Government bearing in mind the reception their measures received at the hands of the representatives last session have determined only to offer “men not measures ” this session, and merely point out what sort of Pleasures the men offered will be prepared to support. , Kxperientia doc ft indoctos is evidently the motto of the present Ministry.