GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 132, 27 July 1911, Page 5

GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.

Parliament was opened this afternoon by His Excellency the Governor in person. The following is the speech from the Throne; — Honourable Gentlemen of >’.e Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, It affords me much pleasure to again meet you in Parliament a?semiued. During the recess I have \isited most of the large centres of the Dominion and several of the (Sillying districts, and iiave made myself acquainted with the people. My pieconcoptions regarding that loyalty to the Throne and their devotion to our Most Gracious Sovereign have been amply 7 confirmed. This greatly enhanced the pleasure of my visits, and v'as most gratifying to me as ~ -i e representative of His Majesty and also personally. The Coronation of His Most Glorious Majesty King George V. took place on the 22nd .1 ane v itii befitting ■ ceremony, and .the loyalty and enthusiasm displayed not only 7 in Great Britain and Ireland, but also throughout His Majesty’s vast dominions, show that his subjects far and wide regard him as no unworthy successor to his noble father, and that it 'is with infinite trust they leave in his hands the onerous and arduous task of guiding the destinies 7 f Empire through all the difficulties and complications of domestic and international affairs. Congratulations were sent to His Majesty from the Government and people of New Zealand, and addresses were sent from the women of the Dominion and the Maori population. These werb most graciously 7 received and acknowledged. lo the people of New Zealand, in common witu those of the other oversea,dominions, the ceremony was of unprecedented interest, in view of the fact that His Majesty, as Duke of Cornwall and York, was the first of his illustrious lino to visit every portion of the Empire. An Imperial Conference of the Prime Ministers of the oversea Dominions and the representatives of the British Cabinet was summoned to meet in London. This conference was attended by my Prime Minister and the Attorney-General., The results of that Conference have been most satisfactory 7 , and the details of its proceedings will bo placed before you. The claim made by f the Government of the United States of America against the Imperial Government, known as the Webster claim, has received careful attention by the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General. Your representatives had several conferences with the British Embassy America, and also with the Horae Government in London, which have resulted in an arrangement between the Home Government and the / Government of this country, which they consider completely satisfactory to the interests of Now Zealand. During the last twelve months, death lias removed the Hon. William Cowper Smith, of the Legislative Council, a gentleman who had earned for himself the esteem and respect oi both branches of the Legislature. I am glad to bo able to congratulate you on the continued prosperity of the Dominion, and on the increase in the material wellbeing of the people, as evidenced by 7 the returns and the reports of the State service. The condition of the people generally is much improved; contentment and happiness obtain everywhere, and the outlook for our producers and for those engaged in manufacture, trade, and commerce, is encouraging. The farming industry, equally witu the other industries of New Zealand, continues to develop not only rapidly, but on a firmer basis than in the past, for although live stock products still form the great bulk of our export, and wool easily 7 maintains ms position as the most valuable of these, yet the dominion is by no means so dependent as formerly upon too pi ice of any one staple. The closer settlement of extensive tracts of country once grazed in large areas is now reflected not only in the increased value, hut also in the greater diversity of our exports of farm produce, the most noticeable features in this healthy change- being the increases in the production of lamb and butter and choose. Havino- in view the conditions of too world’s markets for the' commodities that Now Zealand exports, and also tlio probable effect of the competition of other countries, my advisers consider there is every reason to expect a continuance, or even an augmentation, of the prosperity which has lately characterised the trade and industry of the Dominion. During the past year my advisors have- continued the work of assisting the settlement oi the country by steadily pursuing the construction of railways, roads and bridges in various parts of the Dominion under the authorities granted by Parliament. The moans of communication in districts more remote from the principal settlements have boon appreciably improved by the formation and extension of roads and tracks. More progress might have boon made in this direction but for 1 the fact that during last year the la-

hour, v. I;iv-1 1 was expected to he available I’or road works during the summer, was to a larger extent than usual absorbed in other industrial pursuits, and was not obtainable during the months most favourable for work in the backbloeks. My advisers have completed arrangements on satisfactory terms for too establishment of a mail service between New Zealand and Canada, via biji and Hawaii. The service from New Zealand will commence on August 4th next, and from Canada on September Gfch. The result of the last census is most gratifying, the population haying increased to over one' million, exclusive of Maoris. The Maori population shows an increase of two thousand. Exclusive of Maoris the increase since the census of 1906 is 119,829, the estimated population to March 31st, 1911, was 1,000,757, a

difference of only ICSO from’ the census population of two days’ later, which must be considered as a very close estimate. The estimated increase by births during the five years since 1906, was 80,567, and the increase .by immigration 36,712. The arrivals in the Dominion have been largely in excess of the departures. The Representation Commission, to delimit the boundaries of the electorates on the basis of the population statistics revealed by the census, is sitting, and the results of its labours will he duly placed before you.

My Ministers have continued their policy of granting assistance towards the payment of passages of farm lahourers and domestic workers from the United Kingdom, and during the ye-’r the number of persons thus assisted amounted to 2624. By arrangements made with the shipping companies trading to the Dominion, young women domestic workers wore enabled to obtain passages at a much reduced rate, .and included in the number mentioned above there are 831 of these workers. The demand for land for closer settlement still continues, and under the Land for Settlements Act every endeavour is being made to acquire land for this purpose. Tbo areas, however, that are suitable and that can be secured at a reasonable price are becoming restricted. On the other hand, under the Land Settlement Finance Act very satisfactory progress is being made and as time goes on it is expected that the previsions of this Act will be more largely taken .advantage of. The general benefit arising from recent legislation affecting native lands is now being felt in all parts of the Dominion. The natives show a strong desire to bring themselves into touch with closer settlement. They are usnig the machinery of the Native Land Court and Boards freely for the adjustment of their titles and the disposal of their lands. The Native Land Purchase Board lias acquired a considerable area of land which will he further augmented as soon as the necessary surveys and valuations now being pushed on vigorously are completed. The recent conference of hospital authorities .and the tone of the discussions on the various important problems with which the Hospital Boards arc confronted show that they are very much alive to the need for a general extension of our hospital system in the direction of the prevention as well as the cure of disease. The decisions arrived at by the conference were based on intimate knowledge of the needs of the Dominion, and my advisers are giving them careful consideration.

The Commission appointed under the Gaining Act of Inst session, the Commission appointed to enquire into the route of the North- Auckland main trunk railway, and the Commission appointed under the Kaiapoi Reserve Act have -coneluded their enouirios and submitted their reports. Those, will be placed before you in due course. Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— The estimates of tne revenue-and expenditure tor the year will be placed .joiore you. They have been prepared until due regard co economy consistent witu eihciOiiuy. The revenue tor cue past year exceeded the estimate, ana

snows au increase upon mat for me previous financial year. 1 am therefore pleased to say that lue year's transactions have msulted in a substantial surplus. J lie post-aucut system lias been introduced, and is working smootJify and satisfactorily, and is decidedly conducive to prompter payment.

Tne .National Provident f und Act of last session is now in operation, placing within easy reach of our people tne means of lightening the ourdens of maternity as well as protecting the young family and ensuring independence in old age. ano professional gentleman selected by my advisers to act as chief electrical engineer in connection with the development of hydro-electric power has arrived in the Dominion, aid has entered upon his duties with au energy and enthusiasm which encourages tne hope that the iirst large scheme to be undertaken will within a reasonable period bo in successful operation.. Much valuable investigation in connection with this undertaking has been accomplished by the assistant elect lical engineer, who was -n charge for a short time pending the arrival of the principal electrical gmc-er liorn Engla ud.

The survey work for the irrig ition of a large area of suitable land in 'the Ida Valley, Central Otago, has 1 boon completed,' and my responsible advisers are now in a position to outer into contracts for the supply of water to the landowners in •iocoidai.ee with the provisions of the authorising legislation passed during last session of Parliament. The Last Chance water race, originally constructed and uped for man yyears in connection with mining operations, has been acquired by the Government on favourable terms, and it is proposed to utilise the race as a source of uipply for the irrigation of considerable areas cf Jam! at Bald Hill, Earuscleugh Flat, and the intervening country. ( thor iriigation schemes presenting fa routable features are receiving careful attention. The output of gold and silver from our mines shows a slight decline, but this is more than compensated for by an increase in the output of ct ai, which for the first time has :cached over two million tons. The mining industry produced minerals luring the year to the total value of over face and three-quarter millions sterling, and since the commencement of mining with.in the Dominion wealth to the value of over one hundred and clever, millions has been won. In regard to the labour marker. I am informed that the outlook for the immediate future is very promising indeed, although wo are well into winter. The applications for employment at the various bureaux of labour have been fewer than for many years past. Great interest has been raker, m the Workers’ Dwelling Act passed last session, under which workers in any part of Now Zealand are now enabled to apply for the purchase cf residences on payment of a small deposit of £lO, the balance being payable in easy instalments covering twenty-five years anti a hall. In response to the largo number of applications received

arrangements have already been completed for the erection of a number of dwellings. To ascertain whether a scheme for insurance against unemployment should ho adopted in New Zealand, enquiries are being made into various schemes formulated by Great Britain and other countries of Europe, and the intention of the Government will bo announced to you later. in pursuance of the recommendations of Lord Kitchener, and in accordance with the general scheme of defence a commander of the defence forces has been appointed, and my advisors have been fortunate in securing the services of so eminent a military expert as Major-General Godley. I. am glad to bo able to announce that under the new system of unievrsal training brought into operation by the Defence Acts, youths between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one have been registered, and are now being medically examined for service in the

senior cadets and territorial forces of the Dominion. The results of registration have been satisfactory, and the spirit i.i which'this call on the patriotism and sense of duty of the people has been met is highly commendable. Tbo youths registered will be posted to various units of the forces, and it is confidently expected that the scheme adopted for the raining, clothing, and equipping of the new force tints brought into existence for the defence of the Dominion will very shortly be in full working order. Apart from the military aspect of the movement, and even if our mon are never required to arm in the defence of their country, the physical training of our youths should produce a marked improvement in the discipline, efficiency, and physique of the citizens of New Zealand. The first of the training camps under tho new scheme was established at Tanherinikau, and proved most successful. In connection with this a report by the director of military training will bs duly placed before you, as an appendix to the annual renort of the General Officer com-

manding. I am happy to congratulate you upon the launching of the Dreaclnougnt “Now Zealand,” which took place- at Glasgow on the first day of this month, in the presence of a very large number of spectators. ■The revision of the existing prison system is progressing steadily, and a Prisons Board has been set up under the legislation of last session. A report of tiro operations of the Board will be furnished in due course. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— For some considerable time no substantial amendment has been made in tHc law relating to persons of unsound mind, and legislation dealing with mentally defective persons needing oversight, care, and control will be submitted to you.

A Bill amending the Native Land Act, 1909, will be submitted for your consideration. It will deal with various matters that have been noted in practice during the period since the Act came into operation.

Bills affecting an improvement in tho existing law will bs submitted to you in respect to tho Workers ’Compensation, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration, and Wages Protection Acts. \

A measure dealing with the important question of town planning will bo submitted for your consideration.

The question' of the eradication of noxious weeds hag become one of vital importance. Something may be done to minimise the evil by regulating the sale of seeds, and a Bill dealing with the matter will be introduced.

The Administration Act, the Births and Deaths Registration Act, the Marriage Act, the Pharmacy Act, the Shipping and Seamen Act, and the Mining Act require amendment in many important details, and measures for that purpose will be submitted for vour consideration.

Bills will also be introduced dealing with Loans to Local Bodies, Local Government, Patents Designs and Trade Marks, thy Registration of Plumbers, the Sale of Poisons, and other important matters. In view cf the lengthy session of last year, and the large amount of important legislation which was then passed, my advisers are of opinion that this session may be a comparatively short one, in order that the general election may be completed as early as possible. Commending the proposals of my Ministers to your earnest attention, I pray that with the blessing of Almighty God the results of your labours may he for the good cf the Eraoire and of everlasting benefit to the -people of New Zealand.