The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY JUNE 27, 1913. THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 44, 27 June 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY JUNE 27, 1913. THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.

The Speech from the Throne of late years in New Zealand has been largely made up of a rather heavy review ol what we have been doing in the past year, with a raking up of harrowing incident and half-forgotten detail which no one cared particularly to J remember. To a certain extent this is perhaps impossible to avoid. Lord Liverpool’s first effort in this direction since becoming Governor of New Zealand was made to-day, and it certainly has the merit of being exceptionally free from mere padding,

while if brevity is the soul of wit, its comprehension into the compass of eighteen hundred and fifty-odd words prove it the wittiest speech our Governors have vouchsafed at the opening of Parliament for quite a long time. The present speech, so fai as the future is concerned, has been pretty well forecasted. It promises a great deal of very useful legislation and a very busy session: it remains to be seen how far the promise will be fulfilled. That His Excellency, on . this occasion, really had more ol a band in the building up -of Jus speech than is generally supposed happens, one would almost conclude, by bis remark at the commencement to the effect that when the great natural advantage's of New Zealand.become more realised in Great Britain, many suitable settlers will be attracted to our shores. Probably Lord Liverpool, like many other gentlemen in i 1 io Old Land, hardly realised that this “Britain of the South” existed mtil a. little while ago, and bis renark is evidence of bow little notice s taken of the loud timbrel by the icoplo of England, for it does appear lint wo have banged if. very loudly tom time io time. That the volume if trade during the past year has been

the largest in the history of tho Dominion is certainly pleasing evidence of natural advantages and progress, and His -Excellency’s optimistic outlook for tho coming year is good endorsement of Mr H. Beauchamp’s views expressed at the Bank of New Zealand meeting yesterday. As forecasted, there is promise of further hind legislation of an important nature, and the extension of the freehold principle to lands held upon lease, j There are, it appears, likely to be many phases of the land question dealt with. Those who advocate privately constructed light railways—ana there are some in Taranaki who havt loudly craved for permission to build light lines with private capital—wil bo glad to learn from His Excellency’s utterance that legislation is to be introduced to give effect tc this expressed desire, though quite properly safeguarding the public in terests. Though it was known that the question of reciprocity with the Australian Commonwealth would en gage the attention of Parliament, the reference to a reciprocal old-age-pen sion agreement’ is a departure that wil require careful handling, and the proposals promised on this head will be looked for with interest. His Excellency’s reference to the compulsory military training and to the gaof Spirit which pervades the whole force, should be noted by those who oppose the scheme. There is certain to ht much controversy in the House on the

question of Defence, for in addition to matters affecting the Territorial forces the great question of New Zealand’s naval policy must come up for review. The cost of the present mili tary training scheme will certainh have to he gone into, for its tendency to get quite out of hounds Is disquiet 1 ing. Everybody will most sincerely 1 hope that the promised amendment of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act will effect what it proposes, and make the all-too-frequeni 1 and vexatious dislocations df trade ■ . ,\ ' tins qountry has been suffering from ’ less possible than they are to-day at the meiA whim or caprice of some reckless agitator. The important question of Native land settlement—probably as important as any now before the country—figures largely in the programme put forward, and we hope Parliament will make a serious attempt to deal with the idle lands own- , cd by the Maori people, which at this present time are being rendered, in many cases, worse than useless. At ; present the adjustment of taxation is inequitable, and while Parliament must protect the Maori from any at- , tmpt at spoliation, he must be made to utilise his land or allow others to settle qn it and bring it into; good use. The legislation further indicated in the Speech includes 'reform . of the Legislative Council, proposals to reduce the cost of . living, amendTu'Onts of; the old-age-pensions, legis-' ; lation tb bring the copyright; law into line wiih law of Great Britain, ; arid Wahy Other useful measures. The programme outlined is, taken altogether, a good one, and if sensational features are noticeably absent, there remains much of interest and value.