Opening of Parliament

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 26, 29 June 1905, Page 20

Opening of Parliament

The third session of the fiftenAith Parliament was opened an Tuesday afternoon by his Excellency the Go\ernor. The principal feature of the Speech was its g^reat length. Very little new legislation was foreshadowed, consequently the principal business of Parliament will be the patohing-un of ill-considered measures of previous sessions. The first istatenrdnt of any importance in the Speech was that relating to our population; which now amounts to 9U0 ? 6«2, inclusive ot Maoris. A scheme for the superannuation of public school teachers is to be submitted to Parliament, and a proposal for the utilisation of the natural motive power of our rivers and lakes. A,s the financial position of the Colony has much improved it is proposed to increase the Old Age Pensions to 10/- a week. Provisions will be made for the more expeditious construction of important rail-way lines, for the extension of telephone eommutnioation to back-block settlers, and for additional school accommodation. During the past year a very large area of land has been acquired under the Land for Settlements Act. Every section of the Lindsay Estate, in Hawke's Bay. and the Greenfield Estate, in Otago, has been taken up, and in regard to the Flax-bourne Estate only one small section of five acres remains unapplied* for ; yet the earth hunger still continues. Other large estates, in ttpth North and South' Islands are under negotiation, and the demand for closer settlement must be provided itor. It is a matter of congratulation that settlement generally throughout the Colony has proceeded at a rapid rate, whilst the markets for our products have increases, and good prices are ruling. It is proposed to increase the salaries of Stipcndary Magistrates. The usurious and excessive rates of interest charged for moneys lent in some instances render it necessary that a maximum rate of interest and 'chaiges dillerentiative in respect to the several classes of security upon which moneys are advanced, should be fixed by law. Proposals to this end will be submitted. A further endeavor to establish a mail service between the Colony and Vancouver was made, but it was not successful. Bills for the suppression of gambl'np, for the more complete inspection and improvement of hosipital and charitable institutions, and the inspection of private hospitals and nursing homes, for making bejtter provision for the protection of life and property from fire and for placing fire brigades on an improved footing, for the lepeal of clause '.i of the Shoos and Offices Ad<\ 1901, and otherwise making such amendments in the measure as seeirs desirable, and for the referring of matters direct to the people by way of referendum, and other necessary measures will hi placed before Parliament for its consideration It is proposed that all goods manufactured in the Colony shall be stamped and marked as having been made in New Zealand. At the present outmit from our kauri farests it is estimated they will be practically exhausted in 20 years, and therefore the reservation of some forests, the timbers of which are required for social industries, will receive the attention of Parliament.