THE PELORUS GUARDIAN TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1890. The Governor's Speech.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 43, 24 June 1890, Page 2

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1890. The Governor's Speech.

Persons anxious for something exciting, and even for something to lead them thinking, must be heartily commiserated, for the speech just delivered is about as voluminous in words and barren in matter as any of its fore-runners. Two-thirds of the speech is taken up with the personal opinions of His Excellency acquired during his wanderings, and a general approval of everything in general. In fact, for any outsider to read the precious statement, they would exclaim, " Happy Colony—everything going on so swimmingly—no need for legislation." Seriously, what measures from beginning to end does it touch on ? A measure for completion of the defences of the Colony ; money wanted for school and public Wildings; a proposal to uselessly discuss a 2Jd European postage; a vague statement that funds are required to open up Crown Lands and minor measures relating to the qualification of electors, Civil Service reform; a re-dish of last year's Charitable Aid Bills; alterations in bankruptcy laws; Local Government Bill for the West Coast, and " other bills of public interest." In vain do we look throughout the speech for any indication of policy to relieve even in the near future the heavily burdened tax-payer; to induce capital to return to the country ; to prevent the wholesale exodus of people—the bone and sinew of the colony ; to show how the lands are to be settled; and to bring about that prosperity which we should enjoy if more wisdom were displayed in the management of the country's affairs. With the Premier unfit to work, with no competent man with a following to take his place, with a Government unable to cope with the necessities of the country, a change for the better can only be looked forward to in the new Parliament soon to be elected. Let us have new blood—surely in this Colony with its educational advantages energetic men can be found to take the places of many of the fossils who now adorn, our legislative assemblies. There is indeed a grand opening in the political arena for any politician who is capable of propounding a policy to release and relieve this young and would-be fruitful Colony from the unnatural woes which enthral it. The remedy must be applied as soon as possible or its years of real prosperity must be reserved for a future generation.