PARLIAMENT

Dunstan Times, Issue 1173, 22 August 1884, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

. Formal opening; ? '•Tuesday, AUooßt;J9th, 1884 The First Session of the Ninth Parliament of New Zealand wm opened to day by the Governor, when was pleased td mske the j— Hon., Gentlemen ati ve Council and the House of Rep.. It affords me much .ff.e.iwiwi to meet you again cin Parliament . 1 have recourse' to! your assi^Pcti.BS.early as the arrangements cpnsequent-'onithe retirement of the late Admmiswatiou'iiiye: permitted. My advisers are of opinion that it is not desirable that questions of abstract policy should at present be ealt with further than circumstances renter it imperatively ne cessary. but' that concentrated, attention should be given to many urgent matters relating to the material economic an I industrial interests of the Colony as far as time will allow. It is proposed to deal with such matters during -the session to which great importance is to be attached, viz., improving tbe industrial resources of the Colony—prominent amongst which may be mentioned the mining interest, the pr motion of settlement, and tbe advancement of local production and manufactures, as it is of the first consequence that the country should possess satisfactory and sufficient industries. The subject requires very careful and . comprehensive treatment, and little iu such a direction can be effected through the Customs tariff, which is already very high. The progress of public works also demands resolute attention. It will be necessary tocaiefullyoonsidertheposition of those now in progress with a view to deter* mining how they shall be proceeded with. It cannot prove economical to construct works in a manner so slow and fragmentary as to postpone indefinitely any return from, the money expended. On the Other- hand the Colony must be careful to restrain the exercise of its borrowing powers within reasonable limits. My Ministers consider that a great deal of the pressure which is brought to bear on a Government to construct works in unprofitable fragments arises through the fear that if works are delayed Parliamentary authority for them may bo withdrawn, and are therefore of opinion that it would be expe-’icnt to determine that the public faith is pledged unless under very exceptional circumstances, to the works which Parliament sanctions. If this assurance ; bo well understood, the various districts concerned will be contented to see work carried on in a manner compatible with early returns from the expenditure. They consider that great care should be exercised with regard to extending engagements. Some woiks already commenced require to bo carried.on vigorously, such for example as the Otago Cena tral Railway, the small length of line required to connect Napier.with Palmerston North should also receive early attention, and .the authority to continue the Nelson Tine to Ronudelt should ho extended to ci nnecting Nelson with the lino between the East an i West Ooasis of the Middle Island. The trunk system of the Island would then be nearly completed. The line to connect the Easi and West coasts of the Middle Island to which I have just referred is f great im. nrtance. My advisers will p-opote to yon to endeavour in the first | instance to procure its construction by aiding private ent'-rprise. Therd is every I reason for bcli'tyiuK that the West. Ce'asVdf the Middle island possesses -va!u\- indeed, as regards coal and gold. The existence of such resources under highly remunerative conditions has oeen proved. Ihe proposed railway will greatly benefit thedistrict, but for tbe proper development of the cap- bill, ties-of-the West Coast other measures will be required whilst the railway wo ks are in progress I commend the whole subject to your earnest consideration. The completion of through railway -communication between Auckland and Wellington is a colonial work of vast importance, which must bo .'hastened to a conclusion with the utmost possible expauition. It '-ill bo proposed to appoint a select committee to report which route it would lie most expo diept to adopt Authority will bo asked to enable the State to acquire extensive blocks «f land along'the line of this railway. My advisers are of opinion that lands adjacent to this and other railways should be set apart for tbe set lement of a large number of families upon conditions calculated to ensure their prosperity, tb : area for each family being limited. You will recognise that it is of great moment the lands in the North Island that are now held by Natives should bo put to productive uses as rapidly as possible, either by the Natives themselves or Europeans. It is therefore very desirable that the best means of enabling the Natives to dispose of their lands when they desire to do so should be adopted, but it will be useless to provide machinery for the sale or leasing of Native hut's unless the Natives themselves are favorably in clined to make use of it. My Ministers therefore, while considering that, the pro swot system hj is m-.ist objectionable features, propose to postpone Huai legislation on the subject until next sesssion A tempoiary Act may possibly be necessary, but tbe object to bo sept in view is to come to an •’ understanding with the Natives during the recess as trt the plan, which, while not in o insistent With th ■ interest of the Colony will he most likely to cad to results satisfactory to the Maori race Plans will be ' submitted to yon this session if possible, fi.r strengtho rinn and improving the system pf Local Government by giving to local bodies larger duties and an at an red income. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives—

Estimates nf revenue and expenditure will Le laid before you with the hast j.os siMc delay. My rdvisa.s are of opinion that .the preient expenditure for departmental and other purposes may ho considerably contracted, they consider it necessary to establish an eqm ibrium between expenditure and receipts, they greatly ol jeo". to the present property tax. and will propose to repeal it at the earliest moment practicable, they are favorable to a moderate land tax < ednuting from the value of lan 1 improvements and a reasonable aoionnt of «X''mption, the results of such a tax sliou rl as far as possible bo localised in accordance with the proposal to strengthen Local Government, Hon. Gentleman of the Legislative- Council and Gentlemen of. the House of Representatives— My Ministers consider that the present management of the Colonial railways is open to much amertdment. A me-igure will be submitted to yon to provide for boards of management in the Middle Island and in Auckland, subject to Parliament retaining control over the tariff of charges. Your attention, will be called to the expediency of promoting triple and commercial relations m the South Sea Islands. Amongst, the measures to be brought before yoa will b« Bills to improve tho . conditions . under, which married women may hold property, , and to incorporate and place under adequate management the-Life Insurance Department, with provisions for establishing

Local Board* elected by the policy holders. " I com nerid to your moat earnest tion the large interest* confided to you, and* blUlp|fo| God great advances to tbe'-Ooloqy p)*y result from•she'.discharge otljwour arduous dutik*^ (The above wa»‘ issued si* an EXtrafou »Nln*«d*y).