The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1894. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 347, 23 June 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1894. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

After the usual preliminary padding the Speech from the Throne makes congratulatory reference to the sound position of this colony and an uncomplemcntary allusion to our less fortunate neighbors in Australia. Assuming that the speech embodies the opinion of tho Cabinet, there is a charming modesty in the declaration that "Thanks to" these and to the pr.idence and success of the financial policy sanctioned by the late Parliament, the volume of our products con tinues to increase, our colony's credit stands pre-eminent in London, public and private indebtedness diminishes relatively to our numbers, and the unemployed are proportionately fvwer than in almost any other civilised country." The "financial policy" of the Government has rather been a hindrance than a help to the colony, and whatever good credit Npw Zealand has in London, i* entirely due to the energy of the settlers who have developed the butter and frozen meat industries. The surplus of which we have heard so much is, of course, a ] r uninent feature in the Speech, but there is not one word about reducing the tax ation of the people, which the Government could well afford to do if the surplus had a real tangible existence. The idea of borrowing English capital to encourage private enterprise is to the fore, and a schen.e will be submitted to the House for adoption, having that end in view. We do not like the hint which is given of the intention of the Government to interfere with the management of financial institutions, for whatever may have been the shortcomings of that "important company bearing the name of this colony " the management thereof within the colony was no way in fault. We approve of the simplification of the Native land laws, and hope that in the process the interests of the Natives themselves will not be overlooked. The craze for buying private estates is still in evidence, and hand in hand with the purchase of Native land " must go the purchase of private lands for closer settlement." A sketchy outline is given of several Acts rejected last session and new ones to be presented this year, and if the House and the Legislative Council get through all the work prepared for them they will have accomplished great things— if, perhaps, not very wise ones. Taking the Speech as a whole, we notice that a hopeful tone and confidence in the future welfare of the colony pervades it, and, although we think the modes adopted by the Aliuistry to assist in attaining that end are mistaken ones, yet the intention is good enough.