Opening of Parliament.
THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. The firßt session of the fifteenth Parliament of New Zealand was opened on Monday afternoon, Mr A. R. Guinness was elected Speaker unopposed. The following are the principal matters dealt with in the Governor's speech, which was delivered on Tuesday : Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives. When I last addressed you the intelligence of His Majesty' 6 illness cast a gloom over our proceedings. Thanks to Almighty God, His Majesty's health has been restored, and the coronation ceremonies took place on the 9th of August last, amid the general and enthusiastic rejoicing of his loyal and devoted subjects throughout our vast Empire. |When delivering my first speech on the opening of parliament, I expressed the assurance that with careful administration and reasonable opportunities this colony had a great future before it, and that I would visit the different parts of the colony and obtain a personal knowledge of the richness of the soil, note the industries and commercial enterprises, and the richness and extent of mineral deposits. During my stay with you I have visited almost each and every part of this great and beautiful colony, and the favourable impressioas first formed have been fully confirmed. I am proud to say that the prosperity I so much admired on my aarival on your hospitable shores has continued and today I feel assured that the colony of N.Z. is one of the most flourishing within the great British Empire, On August 10th next my original term of office expires. -My advisers, however, expressed the desire that I should remain for a longer period, and believing it to be consonant with the general wish I consented, and His Gracious Majesty prolonged my term of office. The people of New Zealand have extended to me that loyal friendship that was to be expected from a colony so deeply imbued with devotion to their Sovereign and attachment to their Empire, and I have everywhere' met with the warmest and most enthusiastic welcome in my travels throughout their boundaries. Ere another session opens I shall be far away, and shall have severed my connection with your colony. You may, however, rest assured that every effort will be exerted by me to promote the welfare of fa country to which I have become so deeply attached, to draw attention to New Zealand's position and progress and to explain to the best of ray ability the causes which have led in so marked a degree to the general prosperity and happiness undoubtedly now existing within these shores.
New Zealand, together with other over-sea dominions, within the Empire was invited to be represented at the Coronation ceremonies and Colonial Conference, and in my principal adviser, the Bight, Hon. Mr Seddon; New Zealand was fittingly represented. The resolutions passed at the Conference and the recommendations made are far reaching in effect and have attracted considerable attention and will, in due course, be submitted to you. Whilst being pleased with the great and increased productiveness of the colony, which close settlement has materially assisted, my advisers consider that settlement can be largely augmented provided adequate means are available to road Crown Lands. This class of road construction to be paramount geeing that the expenditure on such roads is out of borrowed money.
The excess of arrivals over departures gave the colony a large increase in population last year. The low birth rate in some urban parts of the colony is, however, a matter for grave concern. A largely-increased population is needed, and my Ministers are of opinion that if immigrants of the farming class of the United Kingdom were to come here instead of swelling the population of alien countries, would be to their advantage and the benefit of the colony, and would add stability to the empire, The Estimates have been carefully considered, and consistent with providing for efficient service strict regard sor economy has been observed. With an increased population, extension of departments, and development of resources theze must necessarily be an expanding cost. The estimated increase in the expenditure is proportionate to the estimated xevenue. The owners of large areas of land resident outside the Colony are not taxed through the customs, and as the aggregation of large estates continues my ministers conclude there will not be any serious objection to increasing the present absentee tax. The graduation of the land tax as now assessed under the existing law requires adjustment to make the same fair in its incidence. During the recent general elections several defects were found in our electoral system, and my advisers are of the opinion that it would be consonant with democratic principle if the now existing anomaly was removed, and single electorates alone obtained. During the year a large area of land has been acquired under the Lands for Settlement Act. The demand is unabated and should be met. The sons of farmers in one part of the colony should not be compelled to leave their homes to settle elsewhere while large estates exist in the vicinity of their parents' homesteads.
My ministers are of opinion that a State Fire Insurance Department eould with advantage to tkk eol©uy be
established, and that by enabling those insuring to participate in profits good business would ensue, legislation assigning a proper position to fire brigades and insuring them the revenue necessary to carry on their good work. The guarantee given by the colony to the Bank of New Zealand expires by effluxion of time next year, and it will be necessary for legislation respecting this question to be passed this session. Proposals in respect to this and the issue of bank notes will be submitted. Measures providing for the direct reference to the people of issues on large questions, for dealing with shops and offices, compensation for accidents, arbitration aad conciliation, for improving the present method of land valuation, for extension of rating on i the unimproved value of land, for improving the position of civil servants and school teachers, and for amending the law and system of weights and measures, will, with others, be submitted in due course.
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Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 373, 2 July 1903, Page 5
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1,027Opening of Parliament. Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 373, 2 July 1903, Page 5
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