The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1891. The Governor's Speech

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

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1891. The Governor's Speech

The policy of the Ministry as sketched out in the Governor's speech" is, like all similar utterances, non-committal. It says " Those are our sentiments, but they can be altered should our supporters, in and out of Parliament, denvdud it." The elasticity of the colony's resources is taken credit for, but nobody will be weak enough to believe that this Ministry, or their immediate predecessors, have been guilty of any one act which has assisted to create "the remurkuble volume of our exports." On the contrary, while the settlers theinet 1, es have done so much in that direction, our stupid political system of party Government has tried the " elasticity of the resources of the colony " by. seeing how far they could be depressed." We blame the unseemly contest for seats on the Treasury Benches for much !of tbe retardation of the progress of , the colony, and especially condemn our rulers for the exodus of population' Which has taken place witbiu the last' five years.' The difficulties of obtaining laud for settlement are alreadyalmost insurmountable by the genuine settler who. is desirous- of purchasing a piece of land of his own selection ; but the Government intend to make them still greater -by increased and more complicated legislation than thai; which already exists. Yet in the speech we are told that- *' improved and vigorous methods of settling the waste lands of the Crown " will not comprise the whole scope of the work of settlement. It is proposed to acquire portions of the vast tracts still held by the native tribes of the North Islands,' and to- repurchase parts of the large private estates " which now bar settlement " in some of the most fertile parts of the colony. We are in favor" of the Government purchasing native lands for settlement at a fair price, but we Sirjngly object to their paying fancy prices for some of ' 'the*" large . private estates " which .-are perhaps . mortgaged up to the hilt, or held by loan compauies as security for sum's advanced and accumulated interest, wbiich may make a total -far beyoud the actual.. value of the land. Nothing is said of the reduction of taxation, and we think the Government show wisdom in this because we do not' think the circuntetauces of. the colony would permit of such, owing to the* diminution of the earuiug popu,, latiun. • All available surplus revenue, from whatever source it is derived, is ' to be spent in reproductive public , works in' order to fiud work for the ' present unemployed, and, fco t attract labor from the other colonies. The ' usual number_pf Bills on all sorts of. 1 subjects are indicated,' and the reform ! of the Legislative Council ia pro , | mised, . After inakiug the ' Civil J Service an employment to be shunned, i it is to be, " classified and improved, " J while by amending the gold : 'mining laws, and the' working of 'gold .fields, gold is, we suppose, to be put ia the ban en grounds It is a fortunate thing for the" colouy that there are men in the House who are not likely to pass these Bills, or - adopt the policy indicated, without r the fullest discussion.