SUMMARY OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 151, 13 June 1891, Page 2

SUMMARY OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The following' are the leading features jf the Governor's speech : — The elasticity »f the colony 'B resources has been again shown by a further increase in the already remarkable volume of onr exporter My Ministers think it would be a mistake to ignore the unfortunate exodus of population from our shores to the "neighboring Colonies, which is still going on. My Ministers consider that this strange phenomenon, in so young and richly endowed a country as this, is well worthy both of systematic investigation and- of the application of rational remedies. The alienation of the .waste lands of the Crown has being going on during the last twelve months at a rapid rate. My Ministers, however, are, of opinion that for some years past the amount of actual settlement effected has not ..been quite commensurate with the somewhat large' area of lands disposed of,, while it i» , doubtless true that a number of genuine? settlers have taken up land. It seems* also, unfortunately to be the case that in many instances selection instead of bringing out occupation and cultivation has only meant acquisition for speculative purposes or additions to estates already sufficiently, if not indeed -injuriously, large. Amend' ments in the land laws designed rigidly to reserve the remainder of our Crown lands for genuine occupation and improvement will, therefore, be laid before you. My advisers promise that the utility of this ■ legislation shall be aug- , mented by regulations designed and alsoadministered with the view of planting "' and increasing the numbers of small but thriving occupiers upon the soil. My . advisers are convinced that improved aiid vigorous methods of settling the waste lands of tKe Crown, however necessary , and valuable, do not by any means com- ' prise the whole Bcope of the work of settlement. Side by side with the open-, ing up of Crown lands should go the.' acquisition of portions of vast tracts still held by the Native tribes in the North Island. Moreoyer, the time seems to be approaching when the immense task of repurchasing partß of the large private estates, which now, bar settlement in Boineofthe most fertile parts of the col- . ony, must be entered upon, and undertaken with caution, justice, and discrimination. Proposals for. promoting the development of the mining industries of the colony by legislation and other means will be submitted to you in accordance with fcba decision arrived at by the late Parliament. The estimates of revenue and expenditure will be laid before you. The estimates of expenditure have been framed with a due regard to economy. In continuance of the work -of .retrenchment, begun in 1886 and carried on by the la&t Parliament, my Minister have not hesitated to reduce the cost of dheir different departments wherever this could .be fairly and prudently done. . In '.this way substantial sayings have been effected, the details of which you will, as a matter of course, have every opportunity to discuss. My Ministers are of opinioathat the time lias come for effecting a. bold reform of the chief part of the direct taxation as now levied, and Bills ' have been- prepared • for- this purpose. A measure will be submitted providing- > for -the reform of the Legislative Council m a manner which my advisers believe will . be found to *be . m accord with the expoctationsof the public. There are now ready for your consider- - ation Bills for consolidating and amending the law relating *' to electors and elections and for compelling the abolition of plural voting ; for classifying aud improving the Civil Service ; amending the law affecting gold-mining and the working of goldfields ; altering and consolidating the law of Bankruptcy ; defining the law of libel ; amending the laws relating to companies, and to jnries ; fixing the- ~ liability of promoters and directors of companies, and consolidating the criminal law, as well as other bills dealing with matters of publio interest.