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The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 18.

The Governor's Speech with which Parliament was opened on Tuesday is, in. more respects than one, a remarkable document. First as to its length, it, considerably exceeds the usual run of Vice-regal utterances. But not only is the speech exceptionally rich in words, but, strange to say,' those words mean something. A speech from the Throne, as a rule, whether long or short, is generally a fine example of the possibility of using language -to conceal our thoughts. The Delphic oracles are apparently taken as models of composition j and tlie consequence is a mass of verbiage which may mean anything or nothing according to the taste and fancy of the hearer. Now, whatever faults the speech under reviejr possesses, it certainly has the merife of emitting no uncertain sound. We are told therein distinctly what the Government programme is. After an ' introductory paragraph, in which the .Governor expressed tho gratification it "had afforded him *to have met with such ia/Joyal and,, fiorclial reception, during his recent tour, His.Eircellency.proceeded as .follows:—r t

"My responsible advisers fully recognise the desire that exists for the enactment of measures which will secure a more frequent return of members to their constituencies for re-election ; for an equitable distribution of the burdens of taxation, and for a mode more just and judicious of dealing with the public lands and those belonging to the Natives. As a first step towards giving effect to these desires, tlie following measures will, among others, be laid before you:— " A Bill to amend the law relating to electors qualified to vote at the election of members of the House of Representatives, and a Bill to make provision for the representation of the people in the General Assembly. These measures, if they receive your sanction, will secure manhood suffrage on a residential qualification to Europeans, and will give the franchise to men of the Native race who are enrolled on a ratepayer's roll, or who hold individual or undivided grants from tho Crown for land to a certain value. The effect of the measures will also be to adjust the representation as far as possible on the basis of the population,' and to limit the duration of future Parliaments to three years."

The speech then goes on to deal with Native affairs. A measure is promised providing that in future Native reserve lands shall be dealt with only by public auction or public tender. It is also stated that the : Government are desirous of extending this principle, with consent of the Native owners to such Native lands, the titles to, which have not yet •been.investigated by the Court. With regard 4o ithe late disturbances on the West Coast, the speech does not speak very hopefully, the Governor merely -saying—

" The necessary steps have been taken to secure the peace of the district, and it is possible that a peaceable solution of the difficulty will be found. Papers in reference to the matter will be laid before you."

I We are told that " the negotiations with the Waikato Natives have been suspended, and all offers of settlement have been withdrawn, so that any future negotiations must be commenced on a new basis." .• At the same time that the behaviour of Tawhaio and his people continues friendly, and that there is good reason to believe that these relations will be maintained. On the question of Finance the speech is no less explicit than on other jxnuts. The "gentlemen of the House of Representatives" are informed that under nearly all heads the revenue received has exceeded the estimated amount, such excess amounting to. £190,000. In. land revenue a-large deficiency has occurred; but it is pointed out that'this is not an absolute loss, as the 'laYld, which is the capital of the *country,' still remains for sale. To meet this deficiency it is proposed to impose ■. anjncome tax, with the avovved object, so soon as the finances of the- country admit of its being done, that the Ligislature can lessen, and ultimately abolish all duties which now press heavily on the necessaries of life, and the springs of industry. Authority is to be asked for raising an additional loan of five mil- . lions. Various other Bills are promised, perhaps the most novel one being a Bill to suspend plurality of voting in elections for.local bodies, whilst those bodies are subsidized by the general revenue. Such are the main features of this remarkable speech, and we believe that, it has taken both friends and foes of the Government alike by surprise. The Wellington correspondent of the Press thus accounts for its outspokenness : — *' You will see that the speech is a goingout, one —a speech intended to show what would have b«jeii done if it hud not been for that want of confidence vote which the Premier knows is not far off. Last session, with a. good majority at his back, he desmed discretion the better part of valor, arid triennial Parliaments and non-plural voting too dangerous to handle-; but: this year, with a feeble, disorganised following, he can dare everything, well knowing that he will'soon be relieved from all reh-ponsi-lity ■• for the non-fulfilment of his promises."

, ; i Far our own part, we do not see any Jsigns df." going out " about the speech. On the contrary, we believe it will give great satisfaction to the country at large. As a matter of strategy, we consider tbe Government, in causing such a speech to bo delivered, have played a trump card. The speveh is of ' so pronounced a character that it-will nrobiiblv urovoice a debate even on the

Address in reply. Tbe motion for the Address is usually taken advantage of by the Opposition to criticize generally the policy of the Government, but the only fault we have known to. be found with the Speech from the Throne has been its vagueness and want of enunciation of any definite policy. This charge cer.tainly cannot be made against the present speech. Honorable members must either attack or defend the policy therein laid down. We believe that the Government have purposely thrown down their gage of battle, with the intention of at once provoking discussion on their whole policy. This is just what the Opposition must wish to avoid. They can find plenty of side issues on which to attack the Government, but it is somewhat embarassing to be confronted with a number of measures, to the principles of which nearly all of the party, if party it be, are already pledged. Manhood Suffrage, re-distribution of seats, and the imposition of direct taxation have all been affirmed by majorities of the present House. If the Government are defeated on either of these questions, they will have a splendid ground of appeal to the constituencies against those members,-' who in such a case, will undoubtedly have voted against the principles enunciated by them on their election.

With all its fulness, the speech is, nevertheless, noticeable for one or two important omissions. Among these, we cannot help noticing that no reference is made to the Land Tax Act, nor to any proposed Licensing Bill. The first we have always understood was to be extended in its operation, and the latter subject should certainly be taken up by the Government, and not left to the tender mercies of private members. No doubt time will evolve a reason for these omissions. Meanwhile a fair fight may be anticipated, in which we are assured that truly liberal principles will ultimately score the victory.

By our Parliamentary news, which appears elsewhere, it will be seen that Mr Macandrew was to move for the appointment of a Select Committee to enquire into the manner in which the distribution of Government advertising is regulated throughout the colony. The matlei* is not being enquired into a moment too soon. The system, or want of sysrem, upon which these advertisements have been given to, and withheld from different journals is simply inexplicable, for we do not care to impute motives, or assume that Ministers have really intended to use their patronage in this matter as a means of corruption instead of consulting the public interest. We are loth to introduce matter personal to this journal, but cannot refrain from quoting (from a nnmber of others) a few examples of how utterly the aim and object of advertising has been ignored. Some time ago a petition was presented to the Government praying for an extension of the boundaries of the Borough of Akaroa. According to law, publicity had to be given to this fact, in order that those interested might have an opportunity of presenting a counterpetition on the SHme subject. Accordingly the matter was duly advertised. Where? It is to be remarked that it possessed no possible interest for anyone living more than half a mile '-from the town of Akarqa. To them it was of great importance, and consequently the Government insert the advertisement in the Lyttelton Times, a journal published sixty miles away ! It is quite possible that they made the anonncement also in their Auckland ancl Dunedin pet journals, perhaps sent it to the Melbourne Argus; but one thing is quite certain—they did not notifiy it in the columns of the Akaroa Mail, where it would necessarily have been seen by every man, woman, and child interested.

Again, the Native Office determined to build a school at tho Maori Kainga. Tlie total outlay would only be from £200 to £800, and therefore one would have thought that even the official mind would have grasped tlie idea that contractors would hardly be likely to flock from Auckland or the Bluff to compete for the work. A private man of business, under the circumstances, would of course, have made his wants known to the contractors in his neighborhood. But of officials it may truly be said— "Their ways are not our ways." And so a anent tenders appears in a remote corner of one of the Christchurch dailies. As a matter of fact we we can state that only one of our local contractors knew anything about the job prior to its being let, and his learning it resulted solely from the accident of his being in Christchurch at the time, and a friend calling his attention to it.

One more instance and we have done. About two months ago there appeared in our columns a list of persons objected to as not entitled to have their names retained on the Electoral Roll. It was notified that the objections would be heard "ona day to be appointed by the Revising Officer, due notice of which willbe given." A great number of the persons objected to would have been entitled to be retained on the roll, as they had merely changed their residences. It is scarcely credible, but it is nevertheless true, that the Revising Officer made his, appearance in Akaroa and held his Court, without giving any notice what-, even}. He may have informed the citizens of Auckland, of Dunedin, or of Christchurch of his intention to hold a Court in Akaroa, but again he did not inform the only people interested, viz., the electors of Akaroa. So complete was the secrecy■ maintained regarding his coming that even the Registration Officer did not know of it, and not one of the unfortunate voters objected to had any idea of the Court being held till it was over.

These are simple facts, capable of the amplest verification. We make the Select Committee a present of them, and have no doubt they are only a few out of hundreds of cases that could be brought forward. Comment is needless.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AMBPA18790718.2.5

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 313, 18 July 1879, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,945

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 18. Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 313, 18 July 1879, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 18. Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 313, 18 July 1879, Page 2

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