THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, 2nd JUNE, 1903 THE GOVERNORS SPEECH.

Southland Times, Issue 19088, 2 July 1903, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, 2nd JUNE, 1903 THE GOVERNORS SPEECH.

The " Speech from the Throne." delivered on Tuesday at. the opening of Parliament hy Lord Hanfurly. is of considerable interest for several reasons. It is the last such Speech wo shall have the pleasure of hearing from him, as ere another session opens he will he far away, to quote his own words, and will have severed his connection with live colony. During his sojourn among us the Governor has carried i nit the onerous duties of his high oflice it' a thoroughly praiseworthy and eflicient manner. He has travelled all over tho colony, and has visited all its districts, remote as well as near, and made it his aim to become thoroughly acquainted with all the various and manifold interests that a fleet our welfare No previous Governor has left behind him such a memorial c_f bis reign us Lord Hanfurly leaves in the Veterans' Home at Auckland, and it is safe to say that he has made himself the most popular man that ever held the Governorship. We believe he speaks with all sincerity when he says that the colonists " may rest assured that every effort will be exerted by him to promote the welfare of a country to which he. has become so deeply attached, to draw attention to New Zealand's position and progress, and to explain to the best of his ability the causes which have led in so marked a degree to the general prosperity and happiness undoubtedly now existing within these shores." The departing Governor will leave behind him the memory of a man \vh<ci« endeavoured earnestly and faithfully to carry out the responsibilities of his office. Among the first questions referred to in the Speech was, of course, Preferential Trade, a mutter that is likely to be hotly debated when it comes up for discussion. We shall not offer any comments on the proposals at present ; occasions for their discussion will occur from time to time throughout the session. The Governor gives an effective advertisement to the new Pacific cable in somewhat high-flown terms, calling it " the Empire-girdling, Hritishowned Pacific cable," and speaking of " the lightning-like rapidity with which its messages have been despatched." His Excellency voices the general opinion of the colony when he remarks that "it is sincerely hoped in the interests of justice and the Highest Courts of the Empire that the unmerited and uncalled-for departure of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council may never occur again." The Privy Council well deserved the dignified remonstrance and censure of Sir Robert Stout. In his words. " a great Imperial judicial tribunal sitting in the capital of the Empire, dispensing justice even to the meanest of British subjects in the uttermost parts of the earth, is a great and noble ideal. But if that . tribunal is not acquainted with the laws it is called on to interpret or administer, it may unconsciously become the worker of injustice. And if such should unfortunately happen, that Imperial spirit which is the true bond of union amongst his Majesty's subjects must be weakened." This incident has opened up the question of an Imperial Court of Appeal, an ideal which at present would seem to be beyond the region of practical politics. It remains clear, however, that " some amendment in the constitution c.«f the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is imperative." As Sir Robert' Stout pointed out. this is not the only judgment of the Privy Council that has been pronounced under a misapprehension, or a.n ignorance, of our local laws. The cable in Tuesday's issue reporting the Earl of Halsbury, the Lord High Chancellor, to have said that the feeling aroused over this matter was caused by misapprehension may appear satisfactory enough in England, but out here in New Zealand, where the people have read the judgment of tho Privy Council and heard the replies of the Appeal Court, this statement of the Lord High Chancellor reads as the opinion of one who fails to understand entirely the New Zealand point of view. Tho Speech also refers to the fact that Mahuta has been called to the Legislative Council, and the Ministry feel assured that " his influence will be of value to tho colony, especially in the early settlement of Maori lands." This alleged influence of Mahuta is, however, a somewhat doubtful and unknown quantity. For at. , the last quarterly meeting of the- i Maori Council, held at the Bluff, an address to the House was adopted on behalf of the Maoris of Southland, : objecting to the gazetting of Mahuta i as " King " as regards the Middle i Island natives, and it was stated : that "he might be king of his own i tribes and dominions, but the na- i tives here had never recognised his i ancestors as their king.'.! weji

believe that the same feeling exists among a large section of the North Island natives, for when Mahuta dejcidod to absent himself last year I from the Coronation ceremonies at Auckland as a mark of his displeasure with the Government, the other Maoris still flocked to the celebrations both at Auckland and at Itotorua. It is gratifying to the colony to know that " the greatest goodfeeling exists with the Maori race and that tho estrangement of several of the Maori tribes, which has too long existed, is now closed." There is foreshadowed a policy of actively loading Crown lands to increase settlement, and Lord Itajnfurly well declares the development of our agricultural and pastoral industries to be " very satisfactory."' These pursuits continue to be more than ever the foundation and mainstay of our prosperity, while the " output of gold and coal proves that the mining industry is also iv a flourishing condition." After remarking with satisfaction on the large increase in population caused last year by the excess of arrivals over departures, his Kxcellency's note changes when lie turns to the question of tho birth ):>U\ which he rightly describes as 'in some city districts a ma.ter for grave concern." The New ','. t'.und birth rate is lower than that oi any other of the " vital " racs, la. ing .below the birth rates of the i.!>i'«\'l States, Geiimany, Hussia, a id the United Kingdom, and being >r, fi t-t not much higher than that tf l-'r.nue. This is a question that v ill \«t prove to be of very seri-ns rmmriii to these Australasian colonies. However satisfactory an increased nilow of immigrants may be, it \s ll rot serve to solve the problem how to cope with the evils that spr'-.ig l.'j.r. a decreasing birth rate. The Spn-h goes on to say that " largely increased population is need J.' l. and it is believed that if immigrants of the farming class of Ihe Uni'id hit.^dom were to come here instead >>l swelling the population of alien countries, it would be to their advairage and to the benefit of the cob ny." This .subject of immigration is one that we have written ou frequently and one that will call for comment in the future. Attention has often been drawn to the enormous number of British emigrants who make for ; the United States, where the opportunities are not so great as here. Many of these people are of the class we want— yeomen with a little capital, sturdy, industrious and frugal. We have on previous occasions referred to Canada's activity in this matter, which contrasts, unfavourably to us. with the lethargy hitherto marking New Zealand. In Canada they hold out very tempting inducements to attract immigrants, and they hive nvently formed a large settlement in the province of Saskatchewan by a system of propagandism and encouragement pursued in the United Kingdom. In 15)01 there were ir>.tf«vS em-igrants from Great Britain 1.0 Canada, while to the whole of Australasia there were 15,370, of which New Zealand received but a small shure. This ye.ir again appears in connection with the financial proposals the old. familiar " gag " that " consistent with providing for efficient service, strict regard for economy has been observed." Naturally no government would plead guilty to extravagance- It remains to be seen whether the Government's deeds will not. belie their words. The familiar sentence just tpioted crops up year after year, and reminds us i«f Lord Kosebery's comment on tho Marquis of Salisbury's usual statement in the speech from the throne that " our relations with foreign I'cwers me of a pacific nature." Lord Uoseboiy declared he had heard that sentence annually ever since he could understand the English language. Tho House will be invited to vote a subsidy for the purpose of strengthening the Australasian squadron, and if the conditions are favourable to New Zealand officers and men and offer them an opportunity of receiving efficient training, the vote will probably meet with approval. It will also be proposed to impose further taxation on absentees, and this will meet with no serious objection. With regard to the proposed liscal changes it is significant that the Speech says "it will be for the House to consider in what manner these changes can be made. paying due regard to our own industries." This of course means that the duty on British goods is to remain the same as at present, while th.it in foreign goods is increased. But Mr Chamberlain expressly stated that this " would not suit the British book," and he will undoubtedly ask for a rebate on the present duty on imports from Britain. Whether Mr Seddon will look at all favourably on this request, remains to be seen. Tho other linnncial proposals outlined in the Speech are of little importance. We shall resume consideration of the main points at an early date.