AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 July 1901, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

OPENING OF N.S.W. PARLIAMENT.

'MINISTERIAL PROPOSALS.

Press Association—Telegraph—Copyright Received July 24, 5.50 p.m. SYDNEY, July 24. Parliament was opened by the Lieuten ant-Governor.

The speech, which was Democratic in tone, referred to the inauguration of the Commonwealth, the death of Queen Victoria, and accession of the King, and co«----tained promises for the increase of technical education and to provide f^ilities for enabling pupils attending bu^/schools to reach the university. Spec/ attention would be given to the mdv /trial conditions, the improvement of .he Factories Act, and the provison of b/ iter accommodation for shearers and bush workers. It is proposed to set apart in the, vicinity of Sydney and other centres of population, a fair area of Crown lands, to be let in blocks varying in size from onehalf to ten acres, upon long terms of tenure at a rental not exceeding 5 per cent. on the capital value. Parliament will be invited, in view of the great importance of the pastoral, agricultural, dairying, and fruit-growing industries, to send experts to Great Britain, Europe, South Africa, India and the East for the purpose of opening up markets. Steps will be taken for the better classification of applicants for Government relief, as there is reason to fear that the concessions already granted have been in some cases abused. The finances show a general revival of prosperity. Owing to federation, there was no longer any reason to keep alive the party differences upon the question of free trade and- protection, which had so long distracted the people from the steady pursuit of social reform.