PARLIAMENTARY.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 298, 21 June 1895, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, June 20. The second session of the twelfth Parliament of New Zealand tras opened at 2.30 this afternoon by the Governor m person. The weather was bright but an exceptionally chilly wind was blowing from the >"outh. There was, however, if anything a larger attendance of the public than usual, and the galleries of the Legislative Council chamber were crowded with ladies, though there were fewer on the floor than is sometimes the case. Besides Consuls in regulation uniforms or evening attire, the bullion covered uniforms of officers belonging to the mon of-wer now in the harbour added color to the scene in the Cham ber, Lady Glasgow, accompanied by two of her daughters, was present. There were 20 members of the Upper and 57 of the Lower House present when i he Governor began. The Legislative Council resumed oa conclus.oa of the opening ceremony, but only formal business was transacted. TLe Houbo met at 2.25 p.m. Mr Guinness took the chair in the absence of the Speaker. A message was jeceived from the Legislative Council requiring the presence of members to hear the Governor's speech. On resuming at 2.55 pm. notice was given of the introduction of a large number of bills, aud motions for leave of absence for a week were granted to Mr Buick on account of ill health in his family, and to Mr G. W. Kussell for two sitting days in consequence of urgent private business. llou Mr Seddon desired to move without notice that a month's leave of absence be granted to Sir George Grey on account of ill health, but objection being taken he had to give notice of a.otion for next day. Hon. Mr Sdddon gave notice to move that Bellamy's fee exempted from the provisions of Alcholic Liquors Sale Control Act until the report of the House Committee on the subject was received. Mr Pirani gave notice to move on Fiiday the Address in-reply to the Governor's speech. The House rose at 3.45 p.m. GOVERNORS SPEECH.

The following is His Excellency's speech : — Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House ot Representatives — It gives me great great pleasure again to meet you in Parliament assembled. I am able very gladly to congratulate you upon more than one aspect of the present state; and future prospects of the colony. The depression which was so universally felt during the spring and summer months began to pass away before the end of autumn, and has now unquestionably giyen place to renewed hope. Several of our staple products, notably wheat, have risen in price. The better demand for timber has effected many districts. With the recent partial recovery in the price of frozen mutton may be coupled the success of the important experiments lately made in shipping live stock and chilled beef to London. The revival of quartz ruining so noteworthy for months past at the Auckland goldiields, appears likely to have counterpart on the West Coast of the South Island. There is solid reason for anticipating that mining will for some time to come both employ more labor and yield more gold than for years past. Useful as the cyanide process of extracting gold has been, it is not to be gainsaid that the royalty exacted under the patent rights of CasselPs Company has been a heavy burden on the back of mining enterprise. Therefore, as the English courts have upset the patent, my Ministers have taken steps to have it set aside in this colony. The state of the public finances of New Zealand continues to be fair ground for almost unmixed national satisfaction. Once more I am able to say that the provision made during the last session for carrying on the public services has proved more than sufficient. The public accounts show a surplus of revenue over expenditure, a surplus of a thoroughly sound kind, able to challenge any honest and reasonable criticism. Though during the recess persistent efforts have been made to combine the Maori tribes in league against further sales of land, my advisers are glad to be able to assure you that the attempt has failed, and the work of acquisition by the State of native land is in no danger of being arrested. From causes which will be made known to you the work of surveying the territory of the Tuhoe tribe was some months ago suddenly interrupted. A display of armed force and negotiations conducted for the Government by the member of the Executive representing the native race, quickly led to a peaceful understanding. The inability of the Midland Railway Company to complete its contract has long been notorious. Three years ago the Company's New Zealand representatives frankly admitted this inability. Though valuable concessions were more than once granted, the Company had twice subsequently to ask Parliament to modify the contract in order to prevent the collapse of the undertaking. The second application was decisively refused. The line was taken over by my advisers in accordance with law and under the best advice to be obtained The opened portion of the Midland Railway is now being worked by the Government, and authority will be asked to extend it. The cost of such extension the Company will be requested to refund. The visit of the Colonial Treasurer to London has been followed by much direct advantage to the colony. At the Postal Conference at Hobart new cable rates were fixed under which New Zealand will save .£3OOO a year. In London the Treasurer has obtained for the colony amended terms with the Bank of England, whereby the colony will benefit to the extent of .£3OOO per annum. Above all New Zealand has led the way in successfully floating a 3 per cent loan in the English money market, thereby strengthening her public credit and ensuring the success of the scheme for giving financial aid under the " Advances to Settlers Act." Many of our settlers alleged that their applications for loans have not received that consideration which their merits demanded. The responsibility, however, of administering the law rests with the Board, and the circumstances complained of are beyond the control of my Ministers. This matter will, I trusf, receive careful consideration. With the view of opening up fresh markets for our products my Ministers have provisionally arranged reciprocal ■ treaties with Canada and South Australia. These agreements will be submitted to you, and you will be asked to ratify them. There will also be laid before you the report of the delegate who last year represented this coloDy at the Ottawa Conference. The report mentioned deals with proposals as to the establishment of a mail service by way of Vancouver, and the laying of an ocean cable across, the Pacific to connect New

Zealand with British Norfh America. The world wide problem of providing work for the workless has once more been a cause of anxiety. During the recess one of my Ministers visited and inspected a number of the village settlements and labor colonies in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. His report has led to the trial of an important experiment, in combining settlement with the employment of labor. The extension of dairy farming in so many parts of the colony makes it a source of satisfaction that the systematic grading and cool storage of dairy produce are now being carried on by the Department of Agriculture with the best results. Fully alive to the paramount necessity for stimulating trade both in timber and frozen meat, Ministers have endeavored to aid the export of the former by guaranteeing half the freight of cargoes, and propose to call a conference in Wellington to discuss steps for improving tL« distribution of our meat in Great Britain. The measures recommended in the report on the colony's defences are being steadily carried on. The advice of last year's Military Conference is being acted on, and before next year the whole of our forces will be armed with the MartiniHenri rifle. The requisite ammunition will henceforth be manufactured in New Zc.vlancl. Th°- time has, in my opinion^ arrived for increasing the number of my Ministers. The growth of population, the advance of settlement, and the extension of the functions of the State, have so added to the duties of my advisers as to make this change needful in the best interests of the colony. Gentemen of the House of Representatives — Estimates of the revenue and expenditure of the year will be laid before you. The estimates of expenditure have been framed with a due regard to economy. Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives — For the third year in succession you will be asked to pass a Bill extending to local bodies the right of levying rates upon land values. By it such bodies will be allowed to apply the principle upon which direct taxation has for years been assessed by the Government. A Fair Rent Bill will be introduced, and also a measure to effect needful amendment in the Land for Settlement Act. Yon will be asked to deal with the electoral law, and to assent to a change designed to prevent too frequent and inconvenient changes of the bound tries of electorates. Public opinion d ;mands that the difficult problems of Lo;al Government and Charitable aid reform should be faced and if possible solved without further delay. A measure which it is hoped will reduce the number of our too numerous local councils, while at the same time concentratin ; their functions and strengthening thei. financial position, will be laid before you. I trust that you will this session see your way to readjust tVe Customs Tariff. For the purpose of collecting inf irmation of service to Parliament and the Government in dealing with this complicated matter, I appointed a Royal Commission consisting of well-known gentlemen of great public experience, and an exhaustive report prepared by the Commissioner will be submitted to you. Full and fair opportunity will be afforded you for discussing the vexed And interesting question of licensing reform. Bills have been prepared designed to stop excessive rates of usury, and to protect and preserve for the families of working settlers the homes which they have made their own. Measures are ready for your consideration dealing with the relations of masters and apprentices, with public tenders and contracts, and with the restriction of the influx of aliens and certain persons. You will be invited to pass Bills dealing with State School teachers and matters connected with secondary education, and also to amend the law concerning juries. These proposals I command to your attention. I earnestly assure you of my wish to aid your exertions for the good of the colony.